New aid scheme for needy

Wetherby district residents struggling to buy everyday items can find help through a new initiative set up in the town.

Claire King recently set up Preloved-Reloved and has been joined by former town councillor Kazia Knight to provide items of clothing and goods to families who are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

“The pandemic has hit a lot of people hard,” said Claire, who is a regular fundraiser for charities.

“People who wouldn’t usually need any assistance, now do.”

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Kazia added: “We felt that Wetherby had nothing like this and people had to go to either Leeds or Harrogate for this kind of support.”

The not for profit project works by taking in donations from local residents.

Kazia added: “Donations from Wetherby were being taken to Harrogate and Leeds during this last year rather than staying in Wetherby for Wetherby people.

“It works by getting donations of clothing, baby items, bedding and household items and we then get a message asking for items on our Facebook page and we marry up the donations with the requesters.

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“All items are free but are not to be resold on and the requesters must live in Wetherby or surrounding areas.”

But the group is much more than a source of items of goods, as it reaches out during these difficult times of Covid-19 lockdown.

“We also offer a listening ear to anyone who is feeling lonely, isolated or worried to allow them a place to talk about things, it’s all entirely confidential,” added Kazia.

“We have helped quite a few since we started just over a week ago and have a large amount of stock and if we don’t have it in we source it through asking on Facebook.

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“Baby clothes and items are the most asked for and a guitar for a young boy who wants to learn to play at school but he had to have his own guitar first and we ended up being offered three guitars.

“We can be found on Facebook and we arrange the delivery in a Covid safe way.”

Anyone with donations or in need of support can contact Wetherby Preloved-Reloved on Facebook.

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