Halesowen children's organisation needs clothes to recycle (From Halesowen News)
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Halesowen children's organisation needs clothes to recycle
8:00am Friday 6th July 2012 in News
A HALESOWEN children’s organisation which relys on recycling clothes wants to buck the trend after a drop in trade due to the continuing roadworks on Coombes Road.
Months of roadworks in the Gorsty Hill and Coombes Road area has seen fewer people drop unwanted clothes into the Kids off the Street organisation.
Founder of Kids off the Street Jon Sharpe said: “We are still open for business and any residents or organisations who want to raise cash can still drop clothes into our Coombes Road office.
“The trouble with the road works is that people have either thought we have closed or are not taking in batches of clothes.”
South Staffordshire Water and National Grid Gas have been relaying pipes on Gorsty Hill Road and Coombes Road since April as part of a 26-week programme which local companies claim is killing business.
Kids off the Street is asking homeowners and local schools, youth clubs, churches and other community organisations to raise money by collecting clothes to be recycled.
Mr Sharpe, said: “We wanted to do something for local youngsters after all the negative publicity about our youth after the riots, and raising cash through recycling clothes is a great way to do it.
“We are aiming to help young people get involved and raise much needed cash for their groups and organisations, and at the same time raise funds for other communities who are suffering from poverty.”
Mr Sharpe added: “There so many groups who do great things for children but now demand for recycled clothes means that this is a new source of income for them at a time where funding is being cut elsewhere.
“We, like a lot of local businesses around here, just hope that we will be still going strong when these roadworks finally finish.”
To find out more about the charity or get involved in the fundraising scheme, visit kidsoffthestreet.co.uk or call 0121 667 5996 to recycle clothes.
