Thieves steal charity bags

HEARTBROKEN charity organisers are appealing for more door-to-door collection volunteers amid fears that thieves are beating them to donations.

Sheila Shaw, the manager of the British Heart Foundation’s Rotherham branch, wants help from motorists willing to collect charity shop donations straight from people’s homes in a bid to stamp out the issue.

It comes after the charity’s Rotherham shop recorded a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the number of bags filled with donations by charitable households.

“It seems we’re having serious problems with other people picking up our donation bags,” said Sheila.

“Once we were getting 65 bags a week but now its down to more like 30 and that makes it much more difficult to keep our shop stocked.

“With more volunteer drivers we’ll be able to collect door-to-door and hopefully get a greater benefit from people’s generosity.”

Sheila said that volunteers would be given a mileage rate for their time helping the charity, but reiterated that the driving positions were voluntary.

The British Heart Foundation funds research into the prevention, care and treatment of heart disease and aims to spend £50 million over the next decade to help scientists solve heart conditions caused by heart attacks.

For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk.

To volunteer as a driver for BHF’s Rotherham charity shop contact Sheila on 01709 820573.