Donate clothes to help injured firefighters

Crawley Fire Station, in Ifield Avenue, has a recycling clothing bank where people can donate their clothes in support of The Fire Fighters Charity.

This charity supports injured firefighters and their families and currently has three rehabilitation centres in Devon, Cumbria and Littlehampton.

For every tonne gathered at the recycling banks The Fire Fighters Charity receives £220.

Since the banks were launched in West Sussex in 2011 residents have helped the service collect almost 50 tonnes of clothing and raised nearly £10,000 for the charity.

In addition to raising money for a charity close to firefighters’ hearts, the recycling banks are used to raise awareness of the service’s Home Fire Safety Checks with the freephone number advertised on each one.

Lee Neale, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex, said: “Many of us have a bit of a new year clear out so we’re encouraging people in West Sussex to bank it, rather than bin it! By dropping their unwanted clothes and shoes into one the recycling banks outside of our stations, they’ll be helping to support their local firefighters, reduce landfill and supply clothing for developing countries.”