Reading Business Improvement District (BID) is asking people working in Reading to donate good quality second-hand clothes for local people in need as part of Reading’s Winter Warmer scheme, which takes place from January 14-16.
Reading’s Winter Warmer Scheme is run by Southeast Community Rail Partnership and Reading Basingstoke Community Rail Partnership, with support from Reading BID. The project encourages donations of good quality second-hand scarves, hats, gloves and coats and redistributes them to those in need within the Reading community. Last year’s event distributed over 500 items of adult and children’s clothing to the most vulnerable in our society.
This winter, Reading BID will again be working with Reading’s town centre businesses and their staff to enlist donations of second-hand warm clothing to the Winter Warmer programme, as well as providing volunteering opportunities for local employees to help sort donated clothes and engage with visitors at the collection centre.
Alexa Volker, Reading BID Manager, said: “Reading BID is proud to be supporting Reading’s Winter Warmer programme again this winter. It is a fantastic way for Reading businesses and their staff to get involved with a really worthwhile cause and give back to the local community.
“Winter can be a tough time for so many within our community. Access to warm clothing is something that many of us are lucky enough to take for granted, but unfortunately there are those in Reading who don’t have this luxury.
“The Reading Winter Warmer initiative is a fantastic programme which collects and repurposes good quality second-hand clothes for local people in need during the coldest part of the year. We’re asking Reading businesses and their staff to support the scheme either by volunteering at the collection point in January, or by donating surplus good quality coats, fleeces, hats, scarves and gloves to those in need this winter.”
The donations centre at Reading Station will be open for donations on 14 and 15 January between 8:30am- 2:30pm and between 5-7pm.
Those in need within the community will be able to collect free second-hand warm clothing on 16 and 17 January between 9:30am-5:30pm. The donations centre will be at the Brunel Arcade at Reading Station, near the main ticket office and Costa Coffee.
