A gran is looking to wrap up families in need in a warm embrace by giving their children free clothes.
Alison Hastings setup Clothed in Love in early 2020 and is a volunteer-led organisation, based in Mossvale Community Church in Paisley.
The organisation collects donations of clothes and other essential items from birth to five years old and they are then given out to local families experiencing financial hardship during these difficult times.
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Retired nurse Alison, 68, said: “We are definitely seeing an increase in numbers. It used to be two or three and now it is four or five now.
"It is not just one child now, you can have a family of two or a family of three. I try to get referrals out and get clothes out within a week.
“Toys as well. We get asked if we have toys for a two year old, for example. Sometimes I put toys in even if they don’t request it - it is a wee extra for them.”
For each referral, a week’s worth of clothes is provided for each child and the volunteers play a vital role by ensuring that every garment of clothing is washed, dried and ironed and ready for delivery to the referring professionals or the family in need.
Over the last two years, over 500 bags of clothing, essential baby equipment and toys have been given out to families across Renfrewshire.
They have also recently been accepting donations for children up to the age of 12 after an increase in requests.
Morag McIntyre, a volunteer at Clothed in Love, said: “It is a positive thing that we are doing it and brings a bit of brightness, especially when things are seen as doom and gloom these days.”
Clothed in Love receives a large number of donations on a regular basis and the organisation are looking to expand to be able to store more items and therefore, helping more families in return.
Alison explained: “We are looking for a bigger place to be able to bring in more prams and cots. A lot of people will ask us if we need this or that, but I sometimes have to tell them that I just don’t have the room.”
Anything that cannot be used is given to other charitable organisations or recycled to help prevent clothing going to landfill.
Alison’s hard work and that of her team of volunteers, Kirsty Park, Catriona Petrie and Corinne Watt and her daughter Sara, does not go unnoticed by those who work alongside her in Mossvale Community Church.
Gabi Cullen, who works at Sewing2gether All Nations, which can also be found at the church, said: “Alison does not just dump stuff in a bin bag and hand it over - she makes sure it is clean and ironed for those who need it.
" It is amazing, it is a brilliant thing for those in the community and the church.”
For more information about the organisation, visit the church’s website: www.mossvalecommunitychurch.co.uk/
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