The Red Cross of Vendée obliged to remove all its clothing collection boxes

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Hard blow for the Red Cross of Vendée. Eight days ago, their textile collector, a Belgian company responsible for recovering everything that the association cannot resell in its local stores, announced that it could no longer carry out this mission. “This is a global problem which has repercussions on a local scale,” confides Daniel Fort, departmental president of the Vendée Red Cross. In fact, for several months, the textile recovery and recycling sector has been facing an explosion of deposits.

This overload, the collectors are no longer able to keep up.

Around sixty boxes

The problem has accelerated for the Red Cross, because its collector is facing difficulties, one of its financial groups coming from file for bankruptcy. “We had a first alert in September, but the company then promised to continue with us until the end of the year.” The situation changed following the collector's financial concerns, prompting the Red Cross to review its entire organization, but above all forcing it to remove the collection boxes. “The withdrawal has already started. More than sixty boxes will be removed,” announces Daniel Fort.

34 tonnes per week

Which creates real concern within the association.

These clothing donations represent 50% of our revenue, which is what allows us to operate and help the most deprived.

And without these boxes, there are tons of clothes that the Red Cross will no longer be able to revalue and resell at a lower cost in its stores. “In volume, these boxes represented twice 17 tonnes per week. The collector bought back the kilo that was too damaged or unsold for 0.17 cents. Do the math! This will result in fewer resources for the association et restrict the number of aids very drastically“, fears the president.

This removal of boxes will also have consequences for donors who will no longer be able to drop off their bags of clothing.

They will still be able to donate, but they will have to go directly to local stores.

But they will only be able to give away clothes in perfect condition. Stained or torn parts will not be accepted.

What Marie-Pierre Poiraud, head of the Red Cross store in La Roche-sur-Yon, is preparing for, which is located on Boulevard Branly, just a few meters from the Intermarché. “Our boxes were removed last Monday,” she confirms. “This forces us to review our organization, because clothing deposits will have to be made directly in our store. We will also have to explain to people that we will not take all their clothes in good condition. We will only keep those in good condition, which we can add value to. They will therefore have to leave with those that are too used or unfit for sale,” explains Marie-Pierre Poiraud. Deposits can be made on store opening days. At La Roche, it will be Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons.

A crisis that the Red Cross hopes will be temporary

This change will also disrupt volunteers. “Some had the mission of emptying the boxes, bringing the bags back to the store shed and sorting between the pieces that we will be able to put on sale, and those in poor condition or from manufacturers that the We prohibit ourselves from selling like Shein, which we cannot take. These volunteers will find themselves in the store, and not all of them are necessarily comfortable in customer contact.”

The final fear for the Red Cross is to see the number of illegal dumps increase. “this was already the case with more and more bags placed at the foot of the boxes. We call for people's responsibility,” concludes Daniel Fort, who hopes for a clearer picture, with a possible return of the collector for spring 2025. But without any certainty to date.

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