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CHARITABLE organisations across the kingdom are urging people to donate their unwanted goods to help the needy - hoping the spirit of Ramadan will shine through.
A growing number of groups are appealing for anything and everything from clothes, toys, furniture, shoes, electrical goods and books.
ONSIDE Bahrain, a Bahraini youth organisation that boasts around 280 active volunteers, has launched the 'Donate Your Waste' campaign, urging people to donate unwanted clothes and other household items to assist families struggling to make ends meet.
Rashid Riaz, an events specialist and volunteer, said that in the last two months the group had recycled, donated or reused 130kgs worth of material.
He added: "An important aspect of the campaign is to raise awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling unwanted items, by donating them to families and organisations in need.
"Throwing away any item of clothing increases landfill waste. If each household in Bahrain donated only one extra black bag of unwanted clothing, we could save a quarter million bags from ending up in landfill each year.
"The campaign is also encouraging people to think again about what they do with their unwanted items and instead of leaving them gathering dust or dumping them in the bin, asks them to donate them to a good cause."
The youth group has identified a number of worthy causes they aim to assist including Sneha Recreational Centre, local orphanages and homes for the aged, Bahraini and expatriate families in need, labour camps and shelters. Books collected will be used by ONSIDE to start a private library. Donors can also register on its website.
Meanwhile, the Art of Living Foundation are collecting men's clothing and caps of all sizes, which will be distributed at various labour camps to help workers beat the heat.
Lakshmi Srinivas, a housewife volunteer from Budaiya, said: "All of us see so many men working in the hot sun without caps. While we cannot do much about their working conditions we can make sure that at least their heads are covered.
"The clothes have to be washed and cleaned and in a good, wearable condition. We can even arrange for them to be picked up."
If you love animals and want to do something for them, an easy option is to put all your usable junk that can fit into your car and drive over to the BSPCA Thrift Shop on Budaiya Highway. It is run by volunteers and the shop manager says that the charity accepts everything saleable or reusable from clothing to dinner sets, candle holders, computers and stereo units.
The Cat Society also accepts donations and its charity shop is located above Tibra's pet food store on Budaiya Highway, just next to The Bookcase. The charity shop is upstairs and, if there's no-one available, items can be left with a sales assistant downstairs. It raises money for Second Chance, which is Dogfather Tony Waters' animal sanctuary.
Targeting the welfare of the island's labourers and domestic workers are Helping Hands Bahrain and the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) - both accept men's clothing in good condition. MWPS volunteers accept almost everything - men, women's and children's clothing, kitchen items, air conditioners, refrigerators, bedding and cots. When contacted they will identify a camp or person in need and arrange a direct interaction between the donor and the recipient.
The Awali Ladies Hospitality Thriftshop, run by the BAPCO volunteers, accepts household goods, electrical items (in good working order), clothing, linens and small furniture items in saleable condition. Proceeds from the sales are donated to charity.
For people who live close to Manama another option is to head to the Thrift Centre, St Christopher's Cathedral. Items are sold and donations are given to labour camps, families as well as accident and house-blaze victims.
