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Fill a box to support our compassionate care

9th January 2025

Thinking outside – and inside – the box to support our care

Traditionally, there’s only one ‘Boxing Day’ per year, but that’s set to change when St Luke’s introduces a new concept to its large, city-centre retail outlet this month.

From today (Saturday 4 January), customers browsing the good-quality, preloved clothing on the rails at our Western Approach charity shop will be invited to ‘fill a box for a fiver’ or a larger one for a tenner. Not only will the scheme save buyers precious pounds as they replenish their wardrobes, it will also help protect the planet by keeping more clothes out of landfill*. And crucially, as with every sale the shop makes, funds raised will support the specialist end-of-life care St Luke’s provides for local families affected by terminal illness.

Boxing clever for our patients and their families

From dresses, tops and jeans to men’s shirts, each box-awaiting bargain has previously been on sale at another of our shops. Its arrival at our Western Approach outlet is part of our policy of rotating stock so that customers always have plenty of freshly delivered items to choose from. This helps keep footfall high, generating more profits to support the high-quality care we provide 365 days a year across Plymouth and surrounding areas.

Kindness beyond our compassionate care

The kindness for which we are renowned goes beyond the compassionate care our team provides for patients at home and at Turnchapel. It is also reflected in the way we operate our charity shops, doing whatever we can to reduce waste and help look after the planet.

St Luke’s is innovating

Mike Picken, Head of Retail at St Luke’s, said: “With the cost-of-living crisis and the decline of the high street nationally, these are very testing times for the charity retail sector. So – more than ever – St Luke’s is innovating to keep providing customers with what they are looking for at a price they can afford. The extra challenge is doing this in a way that doesn’t compromise our commitment to sustainability.

Making a vital difference

“There is no longer any profit for our charity in selling off unsold clothing for rag. In fact, it would actually cost us to do so. That’s prompted us to find a solution that means we’re still doing right by our customers, our patients and the environment.

“Every time you fill a box for a fiver or a tenner at our Western Approach store, you’ll not only keep more cash in your pocket than you might otherwise do, you’ll make a vital difference for local families and show your kindness for the planet too.”

*According to www.businesswaste.co.uk, every year Brits through out 300,000 tonnes of old clothes in their household rubbish bins. It’s estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year. Less than a fifth of used clothing is recycled in the UK.

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