Over 6,000 bags of donations a week needed to run children’s charity shops

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has revealed that it takes over 6,000 bags of donations a week to run its shops, as the charity launches its Bag It, Bring It, Boost It campaign for 2019. EACH has 35 shops across Cambridgeshire, north Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk that last year generated an impressive profit of over £1.1 million. However, they can only achieve this with a regular flow of donations.

Continuing the successful Bag it, Bring It, Boost It campaign for 2019, they are encouraging individuals, families, community groups, schools and businesses to bag up their unwanted items and drop them off at an EACH shop, the donation drive was a huge success when it launched in 2017, with over 80 companies and colleges getting involved to supply in excess of 1,000 bags.

Ian Nicolson, EACH Head of Retail & Trading, said: “Our retail portfolio’s rapidly expanding, with nine shops having opened last year, and it’s important we continue receiving donations of all types of items to keep our shelves well stocked. We’re really desperate for homewares, menswear and toys at the moment.

“As we all know, January’s a great time for a clear-out. Maybe you’ve some items lying around unused due to new ones received over Christmas or, perhaps, you got some gifts you actually don’t want! Please bring them along to an EACH shop. The money raised from sales goes towards the care of hundreds of children and young people with life-threatening conditions across the region, and support for their families.”

What difference can you make?

To put into context the difference just a small donation to a shop can make to the vital work EACH does, here are some examples of what a donation could pay for:

• A top, skirt or pair of trousers worth £5 could pay for art supplies for a session of art therapy
• A tea set worth £11 could fund an hour of specialist play tailored to a child’s individual needs
• A nice wedding hat or jacket worth £19 could pay for an hour of vital physiotherapy
• An item of good-quality furniture or prom dress worth £24 could fund an hour with a psychologist to help guide and support families going through, likely, the toughest period of their lives

EACH can help provide themed collection bags, posters and flyers. It can also arrange collections for any companies, schools or just large groups that want to participate. Contact your relevant fundraising office:

Cambridgeshire and West Essex – 01223 204916 or cambs@each.org.uk

Suffolk and East Essex – 01473 917965 or treehouse@each.org.uk

Norfolk – 01953 666767 or norfolk@each.org.uk

For more information about Bag It, Bring It, Boost It visit www.each.org.uk or drop by your nearest EACH shop.

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