A Fife couple who set up a children’s clothing bank for families in need is urgently seeking a short-term place to store donations.
Mary-Grace and Craig Smith have been inundated with clothes since launching the charity Children’s Clothing Bank Dunfermline with friend Judy Corbett, and their spare room is bursting at the seams.
With a further influx of items expected during a donation drive at the end of the month, Mary-Grace hopes someone will be able to offer them storage until they find a permanent base.
“Before we can take referrals, we need a significant stock of donations and we’re having a donation drive on August 29,” she said.
“We’ve already outgrown our spare room as it is.
“We’re trying to find permanent premises we can use as a donations point but if anybody, even in the short term, has premises we can get use of to let us get started that would be useful.”
Children’s Clothing Bank Dunfermline aims to provide children up to the age of 18 with new and pre-loved clothes and shoes.
Teenagers will be provided with vouchers so they can pick their own items.
Mary-Grace said she had been in touch with several agencies and established there was a need for the service in the area.
“Covid-19 has had an impact on a number of families and there is no clothing bank in Dunfermline,” she said.
The donation drive on August 29 will take place at St Margaret’s Parish Church in Abel Place, from noon to 4pm.
People will be able to drive into the car park to drop items off.
The charity has the backing of Dunfermline and West Fife MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville, who described it as a great example of a local organisation trying to help in the community.
“I think the children’s clothing bank is a wonderful idea and I’d urge any individual or business that can assist with their efforts to find storage space to get in touch with the charity as soon as possible,” she said.
“I also hope the donation drive event at the end of August will be a big success and people will come forward with new and pre-loved clothes for local families in need.”
Anyone who can help with premises should email clothingbankdunfermline@gmail.com.
