A Belfast-based charity has said it is overwhelmed by the response from residents of the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough who have donated old sewing machines and tools.
Around 25 sewing machines, as well as dozens of work tools and gardening equipment were handed in at recycling centres in response to an appeal launched by the council, as part of European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) held in November.
Last week, the collection of items were presented to the ‘Tools for Solidarity’ charity, which equips people in Tanzania to set up their own businesses.
John Wood from the charity expressed his delight with the van-load of equipment.
“This is just brilliant. All these machines, every one of them will end up going out to Tanzania,” said John.
“It’s a fantastic start and I am super impressed. There are machines here that are about 50 years old and they are all working, so it just means we will only have to take them back to our workshop and do a bit of service work on them, and then we will get them out to Tanzania for women tailors out there to use them.
“So what else can I say, but thank you all so much.”
Simon Kilpatrick, a recycling supervisor with ABC Council said he was also hugely impressed with the response and stressed that the recycling centres will still accept sewing machines and old tools which will be donated to the ‘Tools for Solidarity’ charity on an ongoing basis.
He said: “It is a tremendous amount of sewing machines and I would like to thank everyone in the area, that has donated. Anyone who still has an old sewing machines or old tools they no longer need, then bring them along to one of our recycling centres and they will go towards this great cause.”
For more information on the vital work carried out by the Tools for Solidarity charity, please visit their website – www.toolsforsolidarity.com/
