Oxfam launches emergency stock appeal

19th May 2011

One of our charity partners, Oxfam, has launched its first ever national emergency appeal for stock donations following the biggest loss of donations in its 69-year history in a fire at its recycling facility. The charity faces a stock crisis after a fire destroyed Wastesaver, its unique sorting and recycling facility in Huddersfield. Wastesaver has been a crucial part of the charity’s shop network since 1967.  

As a result, Oxfam is calling on the British public to help it overcome the unprecedented loss by donating any unwanted clothing and accessories to their local Oxfam shop or donation bank across the UK. The fire wiped out the clothing stock held for Oxfam’s popular festivals shop, which last year raised £250,000 and is scheduled to be at seven of this year’s biggest festivals, including Glastonbury, Leeds and Bestival.

Said Emily Eavis: “Oxfam shops are such a big part of life not just on the high street but at Glastonbury too. It was so sad to hear about the damage this fire caused. I’m going to be digging through my wardrobe to see what I can donate to help – if everyone donates their unwanted things to Oxfam it will make a huge difference – and we’ll still have a shop at Glastonbury.”

Oxfam works in more than 70 countries worldwide, delivering lifesaving and life-changing work in everything from humanitarian emergencies to long-term work battling the effects of climate change. Oxfam’s shop network is a vital part of this, generating around £23 million profit every year to fight poverty.