Happy New Year all.

Its the start of 2022, and we are back to pick up where we left off last year by doing what we do best in our local community, get fit by doing good.

Last night 5 of us met at Solution before heading over to Croydon Refugee Day Centre to assist them with the generous donations received from members of the community over the festive period.

The rain was drizzling but after a bit of chatter and finding out what others got up to over the holidays we headed out into the rain to run half mile down the road to Croydon Refugee Day Centre, where Ivanka was awaiting our arrival.

Last nights' task was to bag up items of clothing that were not suitable for the users of the centre to be sold to a clothes recycling company. For each bag of 10kg they receive £2, the money received is then used to buy toiletries and other essentials for the users of the centre.

There was an array of items that were donated from designer clothes to old beat out cycling shoes and even used underwear, come on I know they meant well when packing the bags but why would some donate their old underwear?!

Two of the bags of clothing donated really stood out as each was labeled with a list of items in the bag and the sizes, you could see a lot of thought and effort went into packing those bags and they were things that although old to the previous owner still had life in them for someone who had nothing.

Between the 5 of us we managed to fill over 7 bags which would be sold for £14-£16, which to some of us wouldn't seem like very much but to the folks at Croydon Refugee Day Centre it goes a long way in helping them to assist the refugees they come into contact with that rely on the aid they provide.

Croydon Refugee Day Centre is alway looking for volunteers and donations so if you or a loved one is about to change up your wardrobe in preparation for the next season do bear them in mind. Donations of clothes and shoes that still have some life in them will be gratefully received (they particularly need menswear)

If you would like details of how to get in touch regarding volunteering or how to make donations get in touch with me and I can pass on Ivanka's details.

Come and join us next week as we head over to St Augustines' for some gardening sign up here