CLOTHING Coventry has appealed for support amid fears they will be unable to continue their vital service of providing clothes to the needy past August- during a time when it’s needed more than ever.
Next month, the organisation will be forced to lay off two of its four staff, its warehouse manager and its driver, unless extra funding is found.
As it stands, their two remaining staff could follow them out the door in August, and overall they need £28,000 to last them until the end of the year.
Clothing Coventry was formed in 2020 and is the only project in the city to offer access to clothes for those in need, including those who are homeless and asylum seekers.
They also have 13 community clothes rails at venues across Coventry where people can help themselves to the items they need.
The demand for their services has recently skyrocketed- in the first four months of 2023, they have handed out 1,100 clothing parcels compared to 1,600 in total throughout last year.
Earlier this week, an appeal was put out by Clothing Coventry on social media after it received a staggering 40 requests for clothing parcels in one day.
Founder Katie Wilson has applied for numerous grants over the last few months, including ones run by Children in Need and the Postcode Lottery, but so far has had no success.
She said: “We’re starting to panic now, I’m spending most of my time applying for funding and appealing for donations.
“Next month we’ll have a situation where we lose half our staff, our warehouse manager has said she’d continue as a volunteer in the hope the money will return but it’s heartbreaking that will have to happen.
“People are so generous donating clothing but we desperately need money to be able to ensure they can be used by those who need them most.”
Katie added it costs £10 to pack and deliver each clothing parcel.
Visit https://clothingcoventry.org/ to donate to Clothing Coventry via its JustGiving page or call Katie on 07914 938 064 if you know of any funding opportunities.
