Ballymena Oxfam shop appeals for unwanted gifts

Such donations could help raise vital funds for the charity’s life-saving work worldwide in 2015.

A new survey from Oxfam Ireland shows that more than eight out of 10 (83%) adults have received an unwanted Christmas present, with clothes (56%), beauty products (56%) and books (31%) top of the list. Other unpopular presents included gadgets (27%), jewellery (26%) and homewares (24%).

The finding was higher among people over the age of 35, with 89% of 35 to 44-year-olds and 87% of 45 to 54-year-olds reporting receiving more unwanted gifts compared to all other ages.

The survey also showed that 85% of adults would consider donating their unwanted Christmas gifts to a charity shop, with females (88%) more open to donating than men (82%).

Oxfam Ballymena is appealing to this generosity in local people by calling for them to help make a world of difference by donating their unwanted Christmas gifts or presents that they already received a copy of. Oxfam shops are in critical need of donations to raise funds for Oxfam’s programmes, including the ongoing emergency response in Syria and South Sudan.

Oxfam Ballymena’s shop manager Lorraine Mahon said: “No matter how small the donation, every little helps. It takes just a moment to bag an unwanted gift but it could change a life forever.

“Whether you received two identical gifts or simply something you don’t need, our shops want the things you don’t and welcome donations of the entire top five unwanted Christmas presents: clothes, beauty products, books, gadgets and jewellery, as well as bags and accessories, CDs, DVDs, homewares, soft furnishings, furniture and even wedding dresses.

“So think twice before binning that unwanted present or shoving it to the back of the wardrobe. We are calling on people to support their local Oxfam Ballymena shop by dropping in those less than perfect presents and other unwanted items.

“The vital funds your gifts will raise mean we can continue our life-saving work, from emergency response in places like Syria and South Sudan and long-term projects that lift people out of poverty to campaigning that gives a voice to the vulnerable.”

By donating unwanted gifts and other items to Oxfam Ballymena, here’s how you’ll be helping to change lives:

The sale of that “too-big” top for £6 could help purify around 2,000 litres of water, making it safe to drink for South Sudanese families living in makeshift camps.

The sale of an unopened cosmetics set sold for £11 could give a family in the Democratic Republic of Congo an eco-friendly efficient stove, designed to be hotter than traditional cooking methods while using only half the wood.

That gift of a necklace that just isn’t to your taste sold for £24 could feed a child orphaned by AIDS in Malawi for three and a half months.

For more information about Oxfam’s work and how you can help, visit www.oxfamireland.org