Charity shops in urgent stock appeal

Buy photos » Headway manager Jo Bressington is looking for more volunteers and stock. Picture by Marcus Mingins 0213001MMR

CHARITY shops are facing increasingly empty shelves as residents look to sell rather than donate their unwanted items.

Stores in Redditch and Alcester have reported a dip in stock levels following the festive period.

Jo Bressington, manager at Headway on Alcester High Street, said donations had dropped off over Christmas and as a result they needed a range of items including good-quality clothing.

Volunteers are also needed to help out at the shop, which raises money for people affected by brain injury.

"We need people who can volunteer anything from an hour of their time every week. No experience is needed, as long as they are friendly and don't mind team-work we can teach them the rest," she said.

Tracy Blewett, manager at Cancer Research UK in Redditch town centre which accepts all donations except furniture and baby equipment, said she was 'desperate' for stock.

"We have had no stock for about three or four weeks. It's got to the stage that some of the stock needs to come off the shelf but we have got nothing to put out."

She added she felt residents were looking to methods such as car boot sales and eBay to make money from their old clothes rather than donating them to charity.

"People just can't afford to give away things anymore. We are struggling. The worst case scenario would be we wouldn't be able to trade if we had nothing to sell."

Steph Cox, manager of the Primrose Hospice charity shop, said they would be grateful for items, especially clothing, furniture and bric-a-brac, as stock levels were 'very low'.

"I think it's down to the climate, people are holding on to their items perhaps a lot longer than they would have done."

But furniture re-use charity Boomerang, which has recently relocated to Hewell Road, has benefited from donations from residents purchasing new sofas over Christmas.

Manager Pauline Thorne said as result all three-piece suites were available for £50 and under. She added the organisation was still accepting donations.

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