School uniform donations sought in Newtownabbey

A number of donation drop-off points will be available from Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24 at locations across the region.

Anyone wishing to donate is reminded that all donations should be clean, washed and in good condition.

All collections are by appointment only between Monday, August 3 and Friday, August 7. For further information on how to request and collect school uniform items for the incoming school year, residents are asked to contact their local scheme.

Donations will be accepted at Carnmoney Presbyterian Church on Monday, July 20 from 10am to midday and 7pm to 9pm and on Thursday, July 23 from 10am to midday and 7pm to 9pm.

Residents are asked to leave donations at the Carnmoney Sports Hall at the back of the main building.

To arrange collections and requests for uniforms, call 07716 709439. Collections from Carnmoney Presbyterian will extend beyond August 3-7.

Donations will be accepted at the Dunanney Centre in Rathcoole on Tuesday, July 21 from 10am to 1pm, Wednesday, July 22 from 10am to 1pm and Thursday, July 23 from 10am to 1pm. To allow for social distancing, residents are asked to contact 028 9508 5934 to arrange an appointment time for collections.

Donations will be accepted at Monkstown Village Centre every day Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24 from 10am until 1pm.

A spokesperson for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council said: “The entrance to Monkstown Village Centre is between Tesco Express Monkstown and Mauds. For access to leave donations, just ring the doorbell.

“To allow for social distancing, contact 028 9086 0090 to arrange an appointment time for collections.”

Donations will be accepted at St John’s Church of Ireland, Doagh Road, Ballyclare from Monday, July 20 to Thursday, July 23 between 10am and 1pm.

To allow for social distancing, contact 07519 805789 to arrange an appointment time for collections.

Commenting on the initiative, a council spokesperson said: “Waste in the production of uniforms is vast! There is waste and adverse environmental impacts from every stage of the complex manufacturing process that uses an extraordinary amount of electricity and water.

“Then after all this the child grows and a perfectly good uniform could go to waste often landfill just because it doesn’t fit that particular child any more. But what if there was a better way?

“School uniforms can last a very long time if cared for and laundered using eco-friendly products rather than harsh chemicals and optical brighteners which can fade and strip away the colour and wear them out before their time.

“If you have a child who has grown out of their uniform or no longer needs it, why not do your bit for the environment and pass on your old uniform and come to a community school uniform swap to find a new one for this year?”

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