The majority of the clothes in this centre were donated by private individuals. The garments are in good condition and can thus be redistributed to those in need.
Danielle Wies, who manages a Caritas “social convenience shop” (épicerie sociale) in Redange, says that “unfortunately,” more and more people are having difficulty making ends meet. If that happens, they often visit places such as social convenience shops to find clothing, for example.
While the centre in Livange is crammed with boxes, the large majority contain children and women’s clothing – which is a problem. The charities that manage the centre have noticed before that throughout the year, but especially during winter, there is a lack of men’s apparel.
According to François Authelet from the Luxembourg Red Cross, there is a 50% demand for men’s clothing, a 30% demand for women’s clothing, and a 20% demand for children’s clothing. Authelet confirmed that the organisations receive “much less” donations for men’s clothing, and that “if we do receive them, they are frequently not in the sizes we need.”
Smaller sizes, in particular, are urgently needed. Potential donors should, however, also make sure that the items, including shoes, are in good condition. Underwear cannot be donated.
“If you have warm shoes that you no longer wear, or warm winter clothes or any garment that can still be worn, give them to us because we really need them,” Authelet stresses.
Clothes can be donated at the different social convenience shops managed by either the Luxembourg Red Cross or Caritas. Alternatively, donors can also visit the sorting centre in Livange.
The report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish and French):
