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23
May 2021
Harrogate Clothes Bank needs help to save it from homelessness
A Harrogate charity is in need of new premises to continue supporting struggling families across the town.
The Harrogate Clothes Bank offers free clothing to those in need and is currently based at McCarthy's Storage World on Ripon Road.
The charity's home is being let out from August so it is on the hunt for a unit of between 1,000 to 1,500 square feet it can use for free, or somewhere it can rent for well below market price.
The clothes bank is run entirely by volunteers and was set up in 2016. Families in Harrogate who find themselves in financial difficulty can get in touch with the charity on Facebook and let it know what they need.
Before the pandemic the charity was supporting 60 to 70 families each month but it says since April this has dropped to 30 to 35 families. It said this is because organisations that handle referrals could be unaware it is running fully again.
The charity expects numbers to rise again in coming months.
Co-ordinator Mike Procter said:
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The charity has said location is important. Ideally it would be based on Knaresborough Road around Starbeck or Ripon Road near Jennyfield.
Mr Procter added that if no location was found the clothes bank would have to work out of several smaller spaces and offer a delivery service.
This would mean people's options would be vastly reduced as they would be unable to come in and choose their clothes.
It is currently in need of summer clothing donations for children and adults.
The centre is open on Saturdays between 10.30am to 12.30pm for donation drop-offs and pick-ups. It is holding a pop-up clothing sale at St Mark's Church, Harrogate, on Sunday to raise funds.
Harrogate Clothes Bank works closely with other charities including The Village, which offers free baby clothing in Harrogate. The charity shares its space with the Canaan Trust that provides free white goods and furniture.
Another partner is Resurrected Bites in Knaresborough, which makes meals out of food headed for landfill.
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