Getting unwanted Christmas gifts? Hartlepool Age UK store can find them a good home

Tees Bay Retail Park Age UK store says recycling gifts will allow it to continue running its vital services and make this winter a little brighter for the elderly.

In addition to raising funds to continue her work, giving unwanted gifts also helps reduce landfill waste, the association added.

Karen Bentley, Hartlepool Store Manager, said: “It can be difficult knowing what to do with gifts that will never be used or that you don’t want.

“As a nation we are more environmentally conscious than ever before, so instead of throwing them away or hiding them, we are encouraging local residents to donate them to the Age UK Shop in Hartlepool.”

People are advised to check with the store before donating to make sure they can accept gifts, and they ask that all donated clothes be washed and dried first.

Research has found that each year we receive an average of two unwanted Christmas gifts each, which equates to over 119.5 million gifts that miss the mark. Of these, 22.7 million end up being sent to landfill.

Age UK says its support services, including its free and confidential counseling line and telephone friendship services, are invaluable lifesavers for the most vulnerable elderly, especially during the winter.

Age UK Hartlepool Shop also encourages people to make their donation an additional 25% value by signing up for Gift Aid when donating.

This means the charity will receive an additional 25 cents from the government for every £ 1 raised through donations.

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