A new research pilot scheme entitled ‘Donate, Don’t Waste’ for the collection of unwanted clothes and home textiles in conjunction with local partners, Charleville St. Vincent de Paul Society’s charity shop, Charleville Chamber and Ballyhoura Development Clg, and the Community Resources Network Ireland (CRNI) was launched at the Charleville Park Hotel on last Tuesday evening.
harleville was selected for this new scheme to gauge the attitudes and behaviours around unwanted clothing and home textiles, share information on where, when and what to donate, and make donations easier through drop points and door-to-door collections.
Speaking at the launch, Mary Casey of CRNI National Executive said they were thrilled to launch this initiative in Charleville. “CRNI’s vision is to create a world without waste, and what’s important about this project is not just the environmental aspect, but also the community aspect. In tackling climate change we are going to need people from all facets of society working together, so we are glad to work alongside you all here in Charleville to create a stronger, more resilient textiles collection system that will yield both positive social and environmental results for generations to come,” she said.
Christine Costello, CRNI’S Circular Textiles research lead, said their charity partner was the St. Vincent de Paul Society. “We are delighted that there are so many ways for Charleville community members, businesses, schools, and community groups to get involved and positively contribute to environmental, social and economic change,” she said.
She encouraged local people to take the survey on unwanted clothing and home textiles at existing collection points, including charity shops, at new collection points and door-to-door collections in some neighbourhoods. Ballyhoura Development and Clean Technology at Munster Technical University are helping with the door-to-door collections, which will benefit Vincent’s Shop in Charleville.
Local businesses can host a collection box and share Donate, Don’t Waste information with customers, and schools and community groups may also do likewise. To get involved and view announcements people are invited to visit www.donatecharleville.ie or follow #DonateDontWaste on social media, contact [email protected] 0r call 087-1735184.
The launch was attended by Mary Lynch, President of Charleville Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society; Anne Greensmith, Manager of Vincent’s Shop Charleville and volunteers from the shop. Rev. Fr. Anthony Sheehan, CC Charleville was also there along with, Sonya O’Neill Regional Retail Manager for Vincent’s Shops in the Cork/Kerry region, Nicola Grufferty and Nicola Dennehy of Ballyhoura Development Charleville, Michelle Green Cork County Council, Pauline McDonagh, Southern Waste region, Dermot McGilloway, National Retail Manager Vincent’s Shops and Sarah O’Connor, Clean Technology Centre, MTU, Cork.
