Charity shop appeals for gift items

MUSICIAN
Sharon Corr has donated a violin painted with the tricolour, Prime Time
presenter Miriam O’Callaghan gave away a green dress she wore to her son’s
christening, while Tom Dunne handed over a prized David Bowie record.

The
three Irish celebrities are all taking part in the

‘Make Space for Oxfam’
campaign, aimed at boosting donations for the charity’s second hand goods
outlets.

Oxfam
Shops across Dublin reported a

“significant decrease

? in donations over the
past year, impacting on the charity’s work to alleviate poverty in crisis
situations across the globe.

A number
of reasons have been identified for the reduction in the quantity of stock
including an increase in commercial textile operations, price hikes in second
hand clothing and greater competition in the retail charity shop sector.

Several
Irish celebrities have been recruited to the Oxfam campaign, and have set the
example by donating their own items of personal value to their local Oxfam
shop.

Speaking
to Southside People last week, Sharon Corr said the violin she donated had been
a special gift, custom-made for her six years ago.

“Your
violin becomes like another limb,

? she said.

“This
violin has been living happily in the space under my piano at home. I feel that
if you’re going to give something away, it needs to be something that’s special
to you, because then you’re truly giving.

“Even if
you only pick one item, your local Oxfam shop would love it. You can be sure
they will look after it, find someone else who will love it for longer, and raise
as much money as possible to help poor people around the world.

?

The
charity has issued an urgent appeal for Dubliners to have a look in their
wardrobes and cupboards for any item not being used, including clothes,
furniture, CDs and DVDs, and bring them in to their local Oxfam shop.

In a
short video posted on the Oxfam Ireland website, presenter Miriam O’Callaghan
explained that the dress she gave away was of great sentimental value.

“I was
in hospital for five months when I was pregnant with my son Jack,

? she said.

“During
the long wait, I told myself that if he was born safely I would buy myself a
beautiful green dress to wear to his christening, and here it is.

?

Chief
Executive of Oxfam Ireland, Jim Clarken, also appealed to Dubliners to donate
anything

“taking up space

? to their local Oxfam shop.

“The
Oxfam shop is the foundation upon which much of Oxfam Ireland’s work is built,
and directly supports Oxfam’s ability to respond to emergencies, such as the
current crisis in East Africa where up to 13 million people face starvation,

?
he said.

In a
statement, Oxfam said it can raise around

?¬35 from a donated bag of clothes in
good condition. A paperback book or a DVD sells for around

?¬3. Designer jeans
that retail for

?¬90 can be sold for

?¬18 to

?¬20, while most high street fashion
brands will tend to sell for 25 per cent to 33 per cent of the original sale
price in an Oxfam Ireland shop.