Charity drive hopes to bringin more donations (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Charity drive hopes to bringin more donations

7:10am Saturday 26th May 2012 in News

Charities and hospices are joining forces to drive more donations to charity shops.

The Choose Charity Shops campaign is being championed by charity Wandsworth Oasis and its five stores in Battersea and Tooting.

Oasis supports people living with and dying of AIDS, relying on donations of unwanted items to survive.

It has shops in Battersea Park Road, Mitcham Road and a book shop in Trinity Road, Tooting.

The campaign is calling on people to donate items they no longer need such as toys and bric a brac to keep charity shops alive.

Battersea MP Jane Ellison has lent her support and made donations to the Oasis Charity shop in Battersea Park Road this week.

She also made a visit to the British Heart Foundation, in St John's Road, Battersea, along with her parliamentary team.

Ms Ellison said: "I always prefer to offer an unwanted item to a charity shop rather than throw it away, so this year I and my team are delighted to be able to support two charities. "Wandsworth Oasis which was established 20 years ago supports a range of organisations working with children and adults with HIV."

Gill Perkins, chief executive of Wandsworth Oasis, said: "We are delighted to be part of this national campaign that raises the profile of the work charity shops do. "Good quality donations are the lifeblood of charity shops.

"The campaign has given us a new opportunity to build relationships with corporate donors which we hope will come to fruition over the course of this week and to remind people to bring their items to us if they are having a clear out."

Law firm Hodders, in Battersea Park Road, and the Rotary Club of Battersea Park have also pledged their support to the campaign Visit wandsworthoasis.org.uk