Waste not, Want Not: Give your unwanted items a new home
The coronavirus lockdown led to a national spring clean of epic proportions – we’ve all been having a big Covid clearout, decluttering our cupboards and wardrobes while hunkered down at home. And for good reason: downsizing can bring peace of mind for more mess equals more stress.
Pandemic or not, it’s always a good idea to get your house in order but don't just throw away your unwanted items. If, post-purge, you’re staring at a pile of stuff that – in the words of Marie Kondo – no longer “sparks joy” but is in good condition, then get in touch.
Get Rid of and Donate redistributes unwanted items – preloved good quality clothes, shoes, bed linen, homewares, books, toys, tech, furniture, music, and more – to those in need in and around the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark. and Lewisham.
We support refugees and asylum seekers, people with mental health problems, disadvantaged youth, the disabled, struggling families, the elderly, and the homeless who benefit from community donations.
The message? Don’t let your rejected items end up abandoned on streets or in landfills, where they can sit for hundreds of years.
Reach out to Get Rid of and Donate, arrange a free collection and help us be there for everyone who needs us.
We look forward to hearing from you.
REUSE, REDUCE, RECYCLE
IN COMMUNITIES
Environmental sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges facing our planet today. Our goal is to promote sustainable practices and reduce the impact of human-generated waste on the natural world. By supporting initiatives that conserve natural resources and promote sustainable lifestyles, we aim to create a just and equitable world for future generations.
Pass it on: Give your unwanted household goods a new home and help the environment
Waste not, want not…
Our goal at Get Rid of and Donate is to redistribute unwanted items – preloved good quality clothes, bedding, books, shoes, toys, tech, furniture, music, and more – to those in need in and around the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham (*other local authorities in need).
Something that you no longer want can still be used by someone else: refugees and asylum seekers, pregnant women, people with mental health problems, disadvantaged youth, the disabled, struggling families, the elderly and the homeless could all benefit from YOUR donations. What’s more, you can also help protect the environment as reusing items reduces the amount of waste we send to landfill and reduces disposal costs.
The message? Don’t let your rejected items end up abandoned on streets or in landfills, where they can sit disintegrating and damaging our environment. Reach out to Get rid of and Donate to arrange a collection for your unwanted goods and help us be there for everyone who needs us.
We look forward to hearing from you.
We Donate 150-280 essential life bags each month to homeless people
We are supporting 350 families each month
We donate clothes/shoes/toys to 150-300 refugees fortnightly
Existing need in our communities:
Get Rid of and Donate operates in Lewisham, Southwark, and Lambeth.
According to The Greater London Authority, in Lambeth alone, there were 143 rough sleepers in December of 2020, 57 of whom were not born in the UK. Additionally, many migrants are unable to access public funding, such as Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance, meaning that many migrants who are unemployed due to COVID-19 are at a higher risk of losing their homes or being unable to feed themselves and their families.
The Joint Council For The Welfare of Immigrants, 1/5th of migrants surveyed in the UK lost their jobs due to COVID-19, and 75% of those migrants fall under the category of No Recourse For Public Funds.
Our activities have consistently directly benefited the previously mentioned demographics, providing immediate assistance with household items and hot meals, and looking further to assist with long-term solutions such as workshops to provide workplace skills training to help with employment prospects.
Our project also aims to alleviate waste and help London achieve its goal of becoming a zero-waste city. The Mayor’s office, London Environment Strategy, reports 7 million tonnes of household waste is produced from private residences, businesses, and public spaces. By diverting perfectly serviceable items from our city’s landfills, we can help chip away at this large issue and contribute to a sustainable future, while helping members of our community who are in need.
Furthermore, in the recently published UN Food Waste Index, it was estimated that 77 kg per capita of food was wasted per household in the UK in 2020, and 4 kg per capita in retail. By distributing good food to families in need, we can help reduce food poverty and the hunger issues faced by residents in South London.