Charity stops doorstep collections

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A LEADING hospice which cares for children in the area with life-limiting illnesses has decided to drop collecting goods from people's doorsteps due to concerns from residents.

Acorns Children's Hospice announced the move in response to complaints about the number of charity collection bags pushed through people's letter boxes and the number of bags being stolen or collected by rogue traders.

The service did collect 2,000 bags of stock each week from doorsteps to sell in its charity shops to raise the £750 needed for each of the 640 children cared for at the hospice's three bases in Worcester, Selly Oak and Walsall.

Instead hospice bosses are now encouraging people to drop stock off at its shop in Alcester High Street and are calling for sports teams, social clubs, workplaces and other organisations to organise 'Bring a Bag' events where people can drop stock off to be collected by drivers from Acorns Hospice.

Janice McPherson, Acorns' head of retail, said they still needed between 10 and 12,000 bags a week to stock its 54 shops across the West Midlands so the support of the public was still crucial.

"We are listening to the concerns of the public, over the number of collecting bags they have posted through their doors. Any bags they now receive will no longer have been sent from Acorns," she said.

"We are eager to receive stock, and ask people to bring donations to any of our stores during opening hours, between 9am and 5 pm, from Monday to Saturday."

Items which can be donated include children's clothes and toys, ladies and men's clothes and accessories, household items, books, CDs and DVDS. Even goods which may not be resaleable, such as clothing which is ripped, stained or with buttons missing, are welcome as they can raise funds as rags.

Anyone who still receives charity bags marked Acorns should call 01564 825027.

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