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Community

26 May, 2023

Helping others stay warm

WINTER days and nights will be that little bit warmer thanks to a team of young volunteers.

By Staff Writer

Chris Philpot from The Salvation Army with members of the Green Future Now team are working together to keep the less fortunate warm this winter.
Chris Philpot from The Salvation Army with members of the Green Future Now team are working together to keep the less fortunate warm this winter.

The young people are on a mission to collect as many items of warm clothing, and blankets, as they can to help the less fortunate – while keeping textiles out of landfill. 

The project, which is part of the 2023 Green Futures Now program, was facilitated by Warrnambool City Council. 

The leadership program is open for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 and aims to build knowledge and empower participants to explore solutions to address environmental issues. 

Group member Edward Higgins said that donating clothes and blankets was a simple measure people could take to make a difference in their community while keeping useful items out of landfill. 

“We thought that a clothes drive would be an easy thing for people to do,” Edward said. 

“People can donate old winter clothes and they can be used by people who might be disadvantaged in winter.” 

Globally, Australia is the second highest consumer of textiles per person, and the initiative also hopes to encourage people to think about the number of items they buy, and to consider the full life cycle of each product. 

The longer an item can be used, the longer is stays out of landfill and, importantly, the number of items needed to fulfil the same role is reduced. This decreases landfill volumes as well as emissions involved in the manufacturing and distribution of clothing. 

 “When clothes go into landfill they produce greenhouse gases as they decompose,” Edward said. Salvation Army Warrnambool is partnering with Green Futures Now on the project, and Ministry assistant Chris Philpot said that a clothing drive was especially timely with the colder weather now setting in. 

“Winter is a difficult time of year for a lot of local people,” he said. 

“For those who don’t have a lot of finances to spare, things like winter energy bills are especially challenging. 

“Something to keep them warm during the day, or especially at night, is really helpful. In some countries they can’t even burn their textiles so it’s great to see things getting a second life.” 

Mr Philpot said it was great to see young people exploring the issues many faced as adults, and helping to make a positive difference in the world for people who were marginalised financially. 

Any good condition winter clothing items and blankets can be dropped off at the Archie Graham Community Centre, the Warrnambool library, Aquazone or the Warrnambool undercover Sunday market until Monday, June 5.

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