Wathall’s Further Expands Support For Bereaved Families
Wathall’s, Derby’s longest-established independent funeral directors, has teamed up with The Salvation Army to collect unwanted clothing that will make life easier for bereaved families and help people in need.
A free collection service is available for textiles, clothing, accessories and shoes when families are ready to sort through the clothes and possessions of a loved one who has passed away.
Alternatively, families can drop off bagged items at one of Wathall’s offices in Derby city centre, Ashbourne, Alvaston, Borrowash and Burton-on-Trent.
Helen Wathall is the fifth generation of her family to run the business and knows only too well how daunting a task this can be.
“I know from personal experience and from talking to families that sorting through a loved one’s belongings after they have passed away can either be cathartic or incredibly upsetting.
“I always advise families that everybody is different and that it is important to wait until they are good and ready and always approach big tasks with support.
“Having taken the first step of sorting through the items, the task of then dealing with the bags of belongings is often very stressful – particularly for those who are older or unwell themselves.
“We therefore wanted to try and make this whole process easier for families by offering a free collection service.”
She continued: “We were keen to work with The Salvation Army so that items of clothing such as warm coats or the proceeds from textile recycling would go to people in our local communities who are at a particularly low point in their lives such as finding themselves homeless.
“Passing on unwanted items is therefore doing a great deal of good to men and women of all ages who most need our support.
“The team at Wathall’s is here to help and I hope that being able to call somebody who understands what they are going through and can offer advice on how to tackle this task will be of comfort and practical support.”
Ms Wathall continued that the Dandelions bereavement support groups – which are social groups that meet regularly in Derby and Ashbourne and are run by Wathall’s – are also on hand to help support you though this difficult time.
“Dandelions groups are attended by people at various stages of bereavement whether recent or after many years.
“The support and friendship from someone else who shares a sense of loss is very important when people are starting to work out how to move on with their own lives having lost a loved one.”
For more information about the textile collection service, please visit www.wathalls.co.uk or call 01332 345268.