Emmaus Village near Bedford is reopening for donations from next week

Emmaus Village Carlton - which provides a home and meaningful work for formerly homeless adults - is reopening for donations from Wednesday (May 27).

Items accepted include clothing, books, upholstered furniture with a fire label attached, electrical items less than 10 years old in good working order. At the current time, Emmaus is not able to offer their usual collection service.

People wanting to make a donation must book an appointment before visiting, to manage visitor numbers and ensure everyone can social distance while visiting. Visitors without an appointment will be asked to book and return at another day/time. You can book an appointment by calling 01234 720826, Wednesday – Sunday, 10.30am-4pm.

Angela Foll, chief officer from Emmaus Village Carlton, said: “The closure of our site due to COVID-19 has closed our ability to generate income. We rely on the income from good quality donated items that we can sell in our shops to support up to 42 formerly homeless people living and working on our site.

"More than ever, we are asking customers to support us and think about donating their good quality items to us rather than sending them to landfill.”

Mayor Dave Hodgson said “We are encouraging people to think twice before they go to throw away things they no longer need. Whether it’s electrical items, furniture or clothing, if it’s still in good condition then there will be someone out there who wants it.

“Make the sustainable choice by reusing and recycling, help someone in need, and support a fantastic charity right here in Bedford borough all at the same time.”

Visit here to find out more.