A Clothes Swap Shop To Feed People

This summer Anglesey Council’s Waste Management Section is teaming up with Mon Communities First to organise a fashion swap shop with a difference. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This summer you can swap your clothes or get a new look in exchange for food. Part of “Swap Shop” starting on the 25th July in Holyhead you’ll be able to exchange cans of fruit, meat, vegetables and puddings to support local food banks for some of the great clothing on offer at a massive fashion swap. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Changing your style this summer has never been so inexpensive. Mon Communities First and Anglesey Waste Management Section have teamed up to help people exchange two of the most precious resources there are, food and clothing. While swap shops are not new there has not been one that exchanges food for clothing allowing people to change their look while feeding people experiencing a life crisis. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Carl Owen from Mon CF is organising the week in July that the swap shop will be held. “There are people on Anglesey who are unable to feed themselves due to rapid and extreme financial hardship. They turn to food banks when they feel that affordability isn’t in the household. The food banks are able to provide sustenance to keep them going and support to get them back on their feet again through sign posting to agencies that can help in their situation such as Citizens Advise Bureau or by gaining help through Mon CF’s Employment Support Team into employment. Many of our food banks are short of a variety of non-perishable items and UHT milk. This fashion swap shop allows people to help by getting a new summer look by swapping food instead of clothes,” said Carl. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fashion swap shop is not only looking for food it also wants people to bring their clothes too. “Hundreds of tonnes of clothing are thrown away every year. Thankfully Anglesey residents recycle a lot of it rather than putting it in the bin. When you recycle the clothing it is often shredded to make industrial textiles. However, a lot of time went into making these once treasured garments and the fashion swap shop will give them a new lease of life with some else who will appreciate them all over again,” says Elin Owen, the Council’s Senior Waste Management Officer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

You can take your unwanted clothes to Mon Communities First office in Holyhead or to Canolfan Ebeneser in Llangefni from the beginning of this week. “The fashion swap shop will work on a coloured label system for the clothing and food that the item can be swapped for. For example, all clothing with a red label can be swapped for a 1 litre carton of UHT milk. On the swap shop day clothes will be hung on rails and then the people can assemble their new summer look,” explains Carl. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This swap shop with food and clothes is unique appealing to people who would prefer to contribute canned food to a great cause in exchange for a new summer look,” said Elin. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hundreds of people on Anglesey turn to food banks in a crisis. “These people are not coming for food as a lifestyle choice, but because they have not eaten for days and need us as a last resort. This Fashion swap shop will help our customers to get their lives back on track and off the poverty line. With the help of food banks many of these people are now working through the support of Mon CF’s Employment Support Team and often volunteering at food banks to help to get them back in the working routine. I hope hundreds of people come to this fashion swap shop and help make a difference for people in crisis. We hope this idea will be extended to other areas of the island in the very near future” said Carl. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​