A UNIQUE new School Uniform Swap Shop is aiming to ease the financial burden on parents who are facing expensive back to schools costs.
Castlefin Uniform Swap Shop is a pop-up School Uniform Exchange where parents and children can donate all school uniform items they no longer need and pick up items they do need, for no charge!
The novel idea is the brainchild of local Cllr Gary Doherty and St Vincent de Paul Branch President Noeleen Killen.
Outlining the thinking behind the idea, Ms Killen said, “We had been talking about the cost involved in getting children back to school and the general rising cost of living, so we came up with the idea of the swap shop.
“The cost of living is so high at the minute and families are already struggling so now with the added expense of children going back to school, it can be a very difficult time.
“We will be collecting donations of all school uniform items for all of the schools in the locality, both primary and secondary.
“Our only request is that any item that is donated is still presentable and wearable,” said Noeleen.
The pop-up shops is a one day event on Sunday, July 30.
Uniform donations for the Swap Shop can be dropped into the Thrift Shop in Castlefin from now until July 28.
St. Mary’s Hall will also be open for donations from 2-4pm on Saturday, July 29.
On the day there will be refreshments and live music from some of the great local talent from the Finn Valley area.
Ms Killen continued, “Everyone is welcome to attend and we are hoping that it will be a fun day and that it will help in some small way to ease the financial burden on parents at this time of year.
“There will be no charge for entry to the swap shop or for taking items home.
“Everything is free on the day! All we ask is that customers consider making a small donation to the local St Vincent de Paul, but this is entirely voluntary,” said Ms Killen.
There has been very positively received and a large number of uniforms have already been donated.
Cllr Gary Doherty said it is a great community project which will hopefully help a lot of families.
“The costs involved with sending children back to school is an added burden on families around this time of year, particularly given the current cost-of-living crisis.
“So we thought about what we could do to try and help ease this burden for families and we came up with the Uniform Swap Shop,” said Cllr Doherty.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering in any capacity is asked to make contact with the Facebook page below or email castlefinuniformshop@gmail.com.
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