How a big clear-out can help Israel’s most vulnerable

Clothing donated to British Emunah through its decluttering service (Photo: Eliana Silver)[Missing Credit]

Thirteen years ago, she proposed the decluttering service in lieu of straightforward fundraising, keen to put her retail background to some kind of charitable use.

British Emunah, whose day care centres, schools, residences and therapy centres provide essential support for thousands of children and families in Israel, already had a substantial database of fundraisers, whom Jackson suggested might benefit from a one-to-one collection service for unwanted items.

She would then list the items on eBay and funnel the proceeds towards Emunah’s fundraising efforts. For high-value items over £5k, she offers clients a 50-50 profit share, where they can take half the money, and the rest will go to charity.

The initiative has been a success, with the eBay shop having sold over 14,000 items, including to theatre and film companies for wardrobes or props. Years ago, they sold a garment to the producers of Downton Abbey for an episode of the TV series.

Designer bags for sale in British Emunah's eBay shop (Photo: Eliana Silver)[Missing Credit]

Of the items currently listed, buyers can browse paintings, silver kiddush cups, coffee tables, vintage clothes, designer clothes, Judaica, mid-century furniture and myriad other miscellaneous treasures, much of which is stored in British Emunah’s office in north-west London.

"It’s just fantastic because Wendy can spot the value of things,” says Jackie, the Edgware-based Emunah volunteer, who provided the Chanel dress and other designer goods, which had been donated by a friend.

“I mean, some of the things that people have donated, you think it’s just an old pot, and it turns out it’s precious.”

Wendy, who personally visits clients’ homes to assess their donations, adds: “You never quite know what's behind a closed door. I could go to a penthouse and come out with a jigsaw, and I can go to a semidetached house and come out with £10,000 worth of stuff.”

Wendy Jackson (left) checking out an item for possible donation in a client's home (Photo: Eliana Silver)[Missing Credit]

Often the most valuable items are actually ones Wendy finds in the rubbish pile. When she was called to a client’s home for a collection a few months ago, Wendy noticed a painting of a matador and bull in the skip. It was a large, colourful piece by a somewhat renowned Bulgarian artist so, taking a chance, she listed the painting on eBay for £4,000.

“I thought, if I get £100 for it, I'll be happy, as I got it from a skip. And the next day, I sold it for £4,000 to a Bulgarian fine arts gallery,” says Wendy. “Things like that have happened a few times, so you never say no to the bag meant for the skip.”

But for many people, the items they donate hold significant sentimental value, and the opportunity to donate to a Jewish organisation eases the emotional weight of parting with them. In some cases, especially with items that belonged to a deceased family member, Wendy urges clients to hold on to such items for a while before deciding whether to donate.

Items donated via Emunah's decluttering service at the charity's headquarters (Photo: Eliana Silver)[Missing Credit]

“With the service that I'm giving to people, I don't rush anybody - it's a bit of a tea and sympathy service, and I think that's maybe why I've been recommended to other people because I'm happy to sit and listen to the stories,” says Wendy. “Whereas if it just goes straight down to the shop, it feels like you're binning the stuff.”

One donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, struggled to part with her son’s inventory of over 3,000 books and Jewish collectible items after he passed away two years ago in his late thirties. Concerned that many of his treasured belongings would end up in a landfill if they donated to a charity shop, the family instead contacted British Emunah.

“He had a deep knowledge of Jewish history and was proud of his heritage, so we wanted to make sure that all his possessions were placed with people and organisations that would either use them or sell them to benefit the Jewish and wider communities,” she said. “It was hard parting with so much of his collection, but we were sure, all along, that this was what he would have wanted.”

She added: “Knowing that the funds raised will go towards the vital projects that Emunah runs - to help, support and heal vulnerable children and families in Israel - is both comforting and a source of pride that such organisations exist in the Jewish community.”

info@emunah.org.uk

To visit Emunah’s ebay shop, go to:

ebay.co.uk/str/emunahcharityshop or click here