‘Keep a Child Warm’ appeal launched to provide winter clothes for kids

DO you have any kids’ clothes lying around with the tag still on?

Could you buy a pair of gloves for a good cause?

A campaign has been launched to create a ‘bank’ of warm clothes for underprivileged school children.

The Back to School Bank’s Keep a Child Warm Campaign is asking for donations of brand new clothes and footwear which will then be gifted to school pupils of all ages.

A special collection point – taking winter coats, jumpers, hats, scarves, gloves, boots, socks, tights, slippers and pyjamas – has been set up at intu Braehead shopping centre.

The charity was started by Lochfield Primary teacher Lynne Gilday to help youngsters whose families might be struggling financially.

Lynne said she launched the winter clothing appeal because there’d been a huge demand for warm clothing.

She said: “We were getting more and more referrals of children who were in dire need of warm winter clothing.

Watch: Glasgow Santa’s Cove is an autism friendly Christmas treat for all

“There are kids going to school in lightweight jackets and shoes  – even sandshoes, in some case – and their families have next to nothing in terms of money to buy clothes. We’re not just asking for donations of school uniforms, but any kind of warm winter clothing.

“It’s heartbreaking to hear stories of how some kids don’t have proper winter clothing in this day and age and it’s through no fault of their own as their families are struggling to make ends meet.”

Lynne added: “We’re looking for brand new clothing as some of these kids have never worn anything to school but hand-me-downs, or second-hand clothes that are not the right size for them.

“We want to give these children the same sense of pride in wearing new clothes as other children have.

“One mum described us giving her a parcel of clothes for her children as it being like Christmas had come early.”

Community development manager at intu Braehead, Lydia Brown said: “This is one appeal for help that will make a real, practical difference to a youngster’s life. It could see them turning up at school with their clothes dry once they take their coat off rather than soaking wet from the rain or snow.

“This is a cause really worth supporting and I would ask everyone who can afford to buy some warm clothing to drop the items off at our collection point.”

Anyone wishing to donate to the Back to School Bank can also email backtoschoolbankpaisley@gmail.com .