It’s time to spring clean for The Salvation Army!

Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL) is encouraging people nationwide to rummage through their cupboards, wardrobes and attics this spring, and ensure belongings they no longer use are given a new lease of life by donating them via clothing banks, charity shops or door-to-door bags. Rather than gathering dust at home or being put in the bin and sent to landfill, donated items will be reused or recycled to support the work of The Salvation Army.

Donating couldn’t be simpler: SATCoL operates a UK-wide network of more than 6,500 clothing banks and over 200 charity shops across the UK. It also delivers over 400,000 door-to-door collection bags each week. All donations of textile items such as shoes (in pairs), clothing, handbags, belts, bed linens, and blankets will be gratefully received via clothing banks or door-to-door bags, as long as they are clean and dry. Charity shops will also be grateful for a range of other household items such as toys, books, CDs and DVDs.

Paul Wright, Head of Retail Operations at SATCoL, said: “Spring is the perfect time to take a look at your wardrobe and household belongings with a fresh pair of eyes and decide what needs to go. We’d like to encourage everybody to make use of our clothing banks or donate any unwanted items to one our shops. We also run a very professional and efficient door-to-door collection service in many areas so look out for our collection bags. We are extremely grateful for all donations we receive, which make such a big difference to people who are vulnerable and in need across the UK.”

Profit raised from the sale of donated items helps to fund The Salvation Army’s valuable social welfare work in the UK and Republic of Ireland, including homelessness and addiction services, care for older people, help at emergency incidents, support for adult victims of human trafficking and a Family Tracing Service. Over the last five years alone SATCoL has presented over £39.5 million to The Salvation Army.

In addition, each tonne of textiles that’s not thrown away prevents 3.6 tonnes of harmful CO2 emissions and reduces the amount of unnecessary waste sent to landfill.

To find out more about what happens to donated clothing and textiles, or to locate your nearest clothing bank or shop visit here