The Irish Charity Shops Association (ICSA) is asking the public to
donate their unwanted clothes and household goods to their local charity
shop to avoid bogus collectors.
In 2011 a ICSA survey found that in the previous two years over €11
million worth of donations had been lost to bogus collectors.
“These
parasites are misleading the public who donate clothes and other
unwanted items in the belief that they are supporting legitimate
charities,” said ICSA spokesman Paul Hughes.
“Our collectors often
meet bogus collectors on the streets of Dublin, taking bags of goods
left out for legitimate charities or passing themselves off as
charities,” Age Action stock collection manager Bill Ralph said.
“The
only way to be sure of beating the bogus collectors is to call your
charity to organise a collection or drop the bag in to your local
charity shop.”
To find a legitimate charity shop near you go to www.icsa.ie/shops