A CHARITY is appealing for schools, workplaces and community groups to hold clothing collections during its annual awareness week.
The Great North Air Ambulance Service relies on donations of used clothing and household textiles to keep its three air ambulance helicopters flying throughout the region.
The charity’s door-to-door clothing collections raise hundreds of thousands of pounds every year, with all of the proceeds going directly to the air ambulance service.
To bolster its efforts, GNAAS has planned collections at venues in Workington, Carlisle, Kendal, Alnwick, Stockton, Darlington, Northallerton and Whitby during Air Ambulance Week from September 22 to September 30. But it is also encouraging residents to hold their own collections.
Mandy Drake, of GNAAS, said: “This is a great opportunity for communities to come together for a good cause.
“It could be a school, a church or a village hall, anywhere where people can congregate and donate a bag or two of their unwanted clothing. We can then send a van to pick up the clothing – it couldn’t be easier.”
The charity needs clothing, footwear and household textiles such as pillowcases and bed sheets, but not duvets. These items are then sold to buyers in Europe with all of the profits going to the air ambulance.
Mrs Drake said: “Our door to door collections will continue as normal, but we are just hoping to give the air ambulance a little boost as summer, which is our busiest time, draws to a close.”
If you can help, please call 01325-308139 or email john.saint@great northairambulance
