Marie Curie Cancer Care
Minister Attwood recently visited the Marie Curie Cancer Care shop on Lisburn Road in Belfast to make his donation to the store.
Minister Attwood said: "Choose Charity Shops" is a key week in all charity shops calendars, as the campaign promotes the local presence of these shops all over Northern Ireland and their willingness and desire to receive donations for reuse of items from everyone.
"Many of us - including my family - donate to charity shops. I bought from a social enterprise venture, East Belfast Mission bike project - bikes for me and the family. Although this week is focused on donations, it's important to remember our local charity shops all year round.
"All items donated to charity shops assist in contributing to diversion of useable materials and goods from landfill making society more sustainable whilst helping a worthwhile cause. This is a win win - donation and recycling. Great causes and great people."
Warren Alexander, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said: "Charity shops simply can't survive without donations of unwanted items from the public. 81% of people in Northern Ireland - the highest in the UK - have unwanted clothing sitting in their wardrobe that they don't use and which could be generating extra income for good causes.
"With nearly 6,000 shops participating nationwide, we hope the 'Choose Charity Shops' campaign will remind people to take those clothes and other unused items into their local charity shop - this week and throughout the rest of the year. We are delighted to see the Minister for the Environment supporting the 'Choose Charity Shops' campaign and Marie Curie Cancer Care in Northern Ireland."
Clayre Sloan, Area Manager, Marie Curie Cancer Care's shops in Northern Ireland commented: "Unwanted items donated by supporters are the lifeblood of our charity's shops. No matter how small or large your donation - or how much the item cost originally - our staff and volunteers will gratefully receive it and are committed to ensuring we receive the best possible price.
"We hope this campaign will encourage people to sort through their wardrobes and cupboards, see what unwanted items they have at home, and choose to make their donation to a charity. We are totally reliant on the generous donations of local people to help stock our shops and raise funds needed to care for terminally ill people and their families at home or in the Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast."