Media Release

Oxfam Ireland makes it easy for you to clear your conscience and your clutter.

Whether you bought a size too small, a shade too dark, or splashed out on a whim, we all have clothes, cds, shoes and homewares that we no longer use. (And they are never more apparent than when you're packing up to move or for renovations.) But why just leave them to gather dust or go out of fashion when you could do yourself, and others, real good and simply CLEAR UR GEAR?

Next time you're looking through your wardrobe and find that suit you haven't worn in ages, don't just flick on by - pick it out, say a fond farewell and put it in a bag for Oxfam Ireland! While you're there, ask yourself why you need 200 cds when you download everything onto an MP3 player now? Or, how come your shelves are heaving with books you know you'll never read again? You'll soon be surprised at how much you have to give!

Oxfam Ireland retail manager Trevor Anderson says: "We're asking people to make space in their own lives and fill shelves in Oxfam Ireland 's 44 shops by simply clearing their gear. Everyone can help us in the fight against the injustice of poverty and suffering in poorer countries by donating quality goods they no longer use. We're looking for everything from T-shirts to teapots, so if you don't need it and think someone else could love it, we want it."

With space and time premium in today's busy lifestyles imagine how good it will feel to know that everything taking up precious space in your house is something you need and want.

So what's stopping you? CLEAR UR GEAR

You give it!
Cds, clothes, accessories, teapots, kettles, furniture, books, vases, ornaments and radios - you name it we can sell it. Just remember we're looking for quality goods. It actually costs Oxfam Ireland £3/€5 to dispose of one bag of unsaleable books!

We sell it!
You can do something amazing. By bringing your unwanted items to your nearest Oxfam Ireland shop you can help us in the fight against the injustice of poverty and suffering in poorer countries. Give us just one pair of shoes you no longer wear and we can use the money raised to buy two Oxfam buckets for people living in camps in Northern Uganda having fled internal conflict. and that's just the start.

It's easy!
There are so many ways you can get involved with CLEAR UR GEAR.

 

Look out for an Oxfam Ireland CLEAR UR GEAR bag through your letterbox, fill it up and wait for one of our volunteers to collect.

Take your goods to your nearest Oxfam shop.

Organise a collection through your workplace and bring it to your nearest shop or let us know and we'll come to collect from your workplace.

Look out for CLEAR UR GEAR at your nearest park 'n' ride

Notes:
CLEAR UR GEAR is a year-long campaign which aims to increase the volume of good quality stock donated to Oxfam Ireland 's 44 shops.

With the current increase in door-to-door bag collections, we believe CLEAR UR GEAR also offers the public the added reassurance of knowing that their goods will be sold by a reputable charity retailer which has been tackling the injustice of poverty and suffering around the world for over 60 years.

We cannot sell:

  • secondhand underwear or socks
  • torn, threadbare, stained or soiled clothing
  • ripped, torn, written-on or dog-eared books
  • scratched or broken records and pirated cds
  • damaged broken or incomplete items of bric-a-brac
  • broken or damaged furniture

€56/£38 will provide food for a month for two children orphaned by AIDS.

€107/£71 will provide pastoralist communities in Kenya training which will enable them to monitor the onset of drought and plan their farming needs so they have the best chance of managing their livestock if the rains fail.

For more information contact:
ROI - Paul Dunphy, Oxfam Ireland's Media and Communications Executive, on 016040706