Vinnies launch innovative Bag-A-Bargain spring cleaning campaign.

(L-R) St Vincent de Paul Society CEO, Heather Kent, with Vinnies Store Retail Coordinator, Kirilee Thompson.

The St Vincent de Paul Society is calling on the community to start their spring cleaning by helping
disadvantaged Tasmanians. The Society has launched its Bag-A-Bargain spring cleaning
campaign. Vinnies’ Bag-A-Bargain is a simple campaign designed to make it easy for everyone to
clear out pre-loved clothes, unwanted towels, sheets, and other household items and bric-a-brac,
and donate them to their local Vinnies Stores.

St Vincent de Paul Society’s new CEO, Heather Kent, said that the idea is to make it as easy as
possible for people to donate clothing and other household items to their local Vinnies Store.

“September is the first month of spring. This is the perfect time and a great incentive to start spring
cleaning and to donate useful, unwanted items to Vinnies where they will be used to make a
difference to the lives of Tasmanians in need,” Heather said.

“The concept is simple. We are encouraging everyone to collect a Vinnies’ Bag-A-Bargain kit from
any Vinnies store across Tasmania. They can take them home, fill the yellow donation bags with
unwanted items around their homes, before returning them to their local Vinnies Store.

“When customers return to the store, they will be offered a replacement Bag-A-Bargain kit to fill
with more unwanted items, or to pass it on to a family member, friend, or neighbour.

“Apart from helping people to clear out items and clothing they no longer need, Vinnies’ Bag-ABargain
will give us the clothing and other items we require to improve the lives of Tasmanians in
need; and stop thousands on tonnes of useful items going to landfill. Vinnies’ Bag-A-Bargain is as
much about helping the environment as it is about helping the destitute, homeless, and the less
well-off in our communities.

“We also introduced Bag-A-Bargain in an attempt to reduce the amount of dumping that occurs
when the weather improves. If people have an easy option to donate clothing and unwanted
household goods to Vinnies, they are less likely to dump clothing and household goods outside our
stores, where they can be damaged. Dumping is a costly problem for Vinnies, as it is for many
charities. In the last 12 months alone, we spent over $50,000 on tip fees disposing of soiled, broken,
or unsafe items. This represents $50,000 Vinnies could have used to help a family in need.

“Spring cleaning and donating is a very satisfying and cathartic experience. It gives you a feeling
of a new beginning – not just for you but for the disadvantaged people you are helping by
donating to Vinnies, Heather said.

Vinnies is asking people to donate clothing and accessories for men, women, and children;
homewares, including clean blankets and bedding, toys, books, CDs, and DVDs.

Vinnies’ Bag-A-Bargain kits are free and available at all Vinnies Stores. Alternatively, Vinnies can
send a Bag-A-Bargain kit to you by calling (03) 6333 0822.

MEDIA NOTES: The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Paris, France in 1833 by a 20-year old Italian student, Frederic Ozanam. Today, the Society operates in 153 countries and has over 800,000 members. Australia has over 60,000 members, dedicated to assisting people in need and combating social injustice. The Society started in Tasmania in 1899 when founders established a Conference in Launceston. From humble beginnings, the Society has grown to 25 Conferences within three Regional Councils across Tasmania. Each Conference undertake a variety of good works, the most recognised being the traditional Vincentian home visits and the annual CEO Sleep-out to draw attention to homelessness.

_{Media contact, Mark Wells: +61 414 015 966 (24-hours)
© St Vincent de Paul Society and MWPA.}