BY AUSTIN LYNCH
The 'Herald' is issuing an appeal this week to anyone who has information about a doorstep clothing collection service in Enniskillen to come forward.
Questions about who runs a particular 'charity' collection service, and where the clothes that are collected go to, have been raised by a resident who received a sticker through their front door last week.
Many people will be familiar with plastic bags being put through their letterbox asking for unwanted clothes and other drapery items to be left out for collection.
But one local resident, who doesn't wish to be identified, has raised questions about one particular collection when he noticed there was neither a registered address or a land line contact number on the sticky label left in through his front door. In fact, the only contact details included on this sticker is a mobile phone number. When the 'Herald' called the number to ask for more details about the collection service, all we got was an 'O2' voice message service.
Another Enniskillen resident received a different sticker through their door over the weekend, with this one asking for people to donate unwanted clothes for a breast cancer prevention programme.
According to the web-site address given on this second sticker, 'Do Not Delay' is a breast cancer awareness programme that was initiated by Lithuanian woman, Agnò Zuokienò in 2003.
The 'Do Not Delay' team includes professional doctors – specialists of their field who face breast cancer cases on a daily basis. The 'Do Not Delay' Pink Bus travels to the most remote locations in Lithuania to deliver the message to all women – 'Take care of your health, pay more attention to yourselves for your own sake and for the sake of those who love you'.
When contacted by the 'Herald', a representative for the organisation explained that, as long as the clothes are in good condition, they are good enough for them. They collect the clothes and sell them in Eastern Europe, with the money going to fund the 'Do Not Delay' campaign for women in Lithuania.
A spokesperson for the Charities Commission explained that an organisation doesn't have to be registered as a charity to raise money so long as they do not mislead the public.
However, the Commission explain, to operate a door-to-door collection, you have to be licensed by the local authority.
Fermanagh District Council referred us to the PSNI who explained that unless there is a crime or reports of illegal activity, the police don't get involved.
When asked about such clothing collections, the Crime Prevention Department of the Police in Enniskillen said they were not aware of any issues or problems with any individual door-to-door collections. The only problem that has been reported to them is when people lift the filled bags outside of people's houses before the representatives of the various organisations have a chance to call around and collect the clothes.
If anyone who is involved with clothing collection services (charity or otherwise) in the Fermanagh area would like to contact us at the 'Herald' we would be able to provide answers, and allay the concerns of this particular resident, and maybe other Enniskillen residents, who are only to glad to help out needy and worthy charities and causes but who like to know to who they are donating their unwanted clothes.
