THAMES Hospice is appealing for donations and reminding donors to ensure that donations can go as far as possible to support their work in supporting patients.
The charity, which provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care, has announced that over £100,000 was spent last on disposing of donated items which couldn’t be sold.
This means that those funds were detracted from the financial support that the charity’s stores help to make possible.
Following the release of the figure, Thames Hospice has released some advice to help those who are looking to donate.
It explains that it can accept quality pre-loved clothing and accessories, furniture and homeware in good condition, toys and games which have been CE marked, upholstered furniture with the correct fire safety labels, and working electrical items, also with a CE mark.
They are unable to accept broken or damaged items, furniture or toys which do not have a CE mark, chipped or mismatched crockery, and items such as pillows, duvets, or feather cushions.
Julie Rowley, Director of Retail, says: “We are incredibly grateful for the wonderful donations we receive, and it’s thanks to the generosity of our community that we can continue our work.
“To make the most of every gift, we’re kindly asking supporters to pause and consider: ‘Would I buy this myself?’ before making a donation.
“This simple check can make a big difference and helps us reduce the cost of disposing of items we sadly can’t resell.”
“We know every donation is made with the best of intentions, and we’re always here to help if you’re unsure about what we can accept.
“Our friendly retail colleagues are happy to advise, or you can check the guidance on our website.”
More information about Thames Hospice and its support work is available via: thameshospice.org.uk
