Warm clothes donations helping people in need

A community initiative offering warm clothes to people in need is set to run for a second year.

Donations to the "pop-up" scheme at Reading Station's Brunel Arcade are being requested on Tuesday and Wednesday, in time for the items to be offered to people on Thursday and Friday.

Reading Business Improvement District (BID) manager Alexa Volker said the reaction last year was "wonderful", and urged people to both to donate and pick up items they need.

"We will be so happy to see everybody," she said.

Also behind the scheme are the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (CRP) and Reading Basingstoke CRP.

Ms Volker said the initiative came from a desire to help people less fortunate than her.

"We wanted to try and do something to help this client group," she said.

She said rough sleepers made up only "a small proportion" of those needing help.

"We're looking at the economic crisis that isn't getting any better, and the winters, they do seem to be getting colder," she said.

"[The scheme is] something that they can come to, and when you've got no money, even if it's cheap, it's too expensive."

She said more than 500 pieces of clothing, including coats, scarves and hats, were given away last year.

"It just goes to show you the need that's out there," she said.

"People were so grateful for the fact that there was something there, there was a resource there, that they could dip into to help themselves and to help their families."

Ms Volker urged anyone with "good quality" winter clothing, including children's clothes, to visit the unit on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Donations will be accepted between 08:30 and 14:30 GMT and between 17:00 and 19:00 on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 January.

The donations centre will then be open for people to collect free clothing between 09:30 and 17:30 on Thursday 16 and Friday 17 January.

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