Should I bin those charity bags?
I'm in the middle of my spring clean and have come across a load of clothes that I want to donate. Over the last few months, I've got a lot of charity bags in through my door. Does it matter which ones I use?
Unfortunately, it does. What was once an ingenious idea by authentic charity shops to take the hassle out of donating clothes has now been spoilt by a few rotten eggs.
The literature on many of these bags looks like the organisation is helping people in the Third World. However, the reality of the situation is that some of these bags are a scam run by bogus organisations or rag merchants, who sell the clothes for profit.
These clothes are usually sold in poorer countries, such as Eastern European, Russia or Africa , and the money is not given to charity. In other situations, the goods are dumped or sold in car boot sales here in Ireland.
I'm shocked! Should I stop using these bags altogether so?
No, not at all. One of the disastrous effects of these scams is that they are affecting collections and fundraising charities such as Oxfam, Barnardos and Enable Ireland, who rely on these bags to fund their services or stock to their shops.
Okay, I want to support these worthwhile charities, so how do I know which ones to use?
Well, there are several tell-tale signs that distinguish a genuine collection from a fake. Firstly, the reputable ones are usually the charities you recognise. They have websites and their bags have the Irish Charity Shops Association logo: a coat hanger symbol like the one to the left. If the name is unfamiliar to you, look closely at the leaflet. The fake charities have no address or registered charity number. Also, make sure you are supplies with a landline number and check the number is real. Do not accept a mobile number as a reputable form of contact. To make absolutely sure your donation is going to the right organisation, check if they have a charity number and a company registration number. To ensure registration numbers are valid, log onto www.cro.ie.
I've checked one of the bags, but I think it could be a fake. I really don't want to simply throw these clothes in the bin, so what should I do now?
Donation is not just helping other people but also cuts down on global waste, so even though it might be a bit more hassle to bring your clothes to a local charity shop, it's well worth the effort. If you don't know where a charity shop is, log onto www.icsa.ie (Republic of Ireland) or www.charityshops.org.uk (Northern Ireland). It has a handy map which helps you locate organizations near you.
If, for any reason, you can't make it there, just contact them and ask for alternative ways to donate. Remember, when a charity bag comes around from a charity you recognise, be sure to put it away safely, so you can use it next time the spring cleaning bug comes upon you.
From the Irish Farmers Journal, 5 April 2008
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