Door to Door Collections

ICSA Statement:
Recently there has been a significant increase in the number of leaflets, bags and stickers dropped through people’s letterboxes soliciting donations of clothes shoes household linen etc. by commercial rag merchants.

There has been concern raised by the general public and the media around the legitimacy of these door to door collections. Most donors are keen to see that their donation goes in support of a legitimate charity. The public are being given the impression that the sale of stock by the commercial rag merchants goes to charity when in many cases it does not.

If you want to support a good charitable cause there are a number of details to look for:

1.	Does the bag or leaflet have an address and landline (not mobile) number printed on it?

2.	Is the Irish Charity Shops Association logo (a coat hanger with ICSA inside it – see above) on the bag/leaflet?

3.	Do you recognize the Charity name? Sometimes leaflets are printed so that they appear to be connected to a well known charity.

4.	Is there a CHY number? Legitimate numbers issued by the Revenue Commissioners run up to about 18800. The Revenue Commissioners publish an up-to-date list. Click below for the link to the lists (you will find them at the bottom of the page on this link to the Revenue Commissioners website).

http://www.revenue.ie/en/business/charities.html

If you are still not sure that the bag or label is from a recognized charity you can either:

1.	Bring your donation to a charity shop near you or

2.	Wait until a charity that you recognize comes around or

3.	Contact the charity you wish to support. Click on the map at the top of this page to find your nearest charity shop.

Legitimate charities that operate charity shops in Ireland rely heavily on the public for donations of clothes, books, shoes, bric-a-brac and household linen. These goods are then converted into revenue and used to fund the often much needed services provided by the charities.

ICSA: The Irish Charity Shops Association Email: info@icsa.ie Powered by: go2web