Disappointment at dumped donations
Dedworth: Donations go to waste as shop signs were ignored
Thames Hospice has expressed its disappointment after donations had to be disposed of in the new year due to shop signage being ignored.
Bags of donations were left outside the Thames Hospice shop in Dedworth on New
Year’s Day despite a sign urging people not to leave them overnight when the shop is shut.
Residents expressed their frustration on social media after a photo of the incident was circulated online, with many deeming it ‘effective fly-tipping’.
Councillor Alison Carpenter (tBfI, Clewer and Dedworth East) told the Express it was an ‘awful’ sight.
She said: “We discovered it on New Year’s Day. On Tuesday, January 2, residents Adrian Hobbs and Daniel RobertsGreen helped the staff at Thames Hospice clear the items left.
“Sadly they had to dispose of it all as it is at risk of contamination being left outside.
“It’s such a waste as there was some good stuff left.
“I do believe most people left it in good faith wanting to donate to the charity but we need to spread the word not to leave items unless the shop is open. There is a pretty big sign but it’s being ignored.
“It happens most weekends but was worse over the New Year weekend.”
Thames Hospice said this is not the first time that donations have been left outside the Dedworth shop and said it was ‘disappointing’ to see the incident reoccur.
Director of retail, Julie
Rowley said: “As a local charity, Thames Hospice relies on donations from the public to stock our stores so that we can deliver vital income needed to care for people in our community.
“It is disappointing to see that over the Christmas and New Year period large volumes of donations have been left outside our Dedworth shop again.
“We have been working hard at our Dedworth store to prevent donations from being left outside, including additional signage to communicate this message to our customers.
“Any donations left outside the shop overnight often become damaged and weatherbeaten, making them unsuitable for sale and incurs our charity additional costs to dispose of this waste.
“We are grateful for all donations we receive and we urge our local community to please visit our stores during opening hours to drop off their donations.”