C.O.R.S.O. Clothes Being Sorted

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31480, 21 September 1967, Page 17

C.O.R.S.O. Clothes Being Sorted

Thousands of bags of clothing collected by C.0.R.5.0. in Christchurch and surrounding districts last Saturday are being sorted at the Addington Show Grounds.

Helpers, many of them elderly women, are packing the clothing according to 20 different categories ranging from baby clothes to evening

i wear. Work begins shortly after 8 a.m. each day, Monday to Thursday, and continues till 9 p.m. Between 50 and 70 persons are working on the clothes at one time. Up to 1000 garments will require washing or mending. Two washing machines are lent to C.0.R.5.0., and these launder up to 200 garments a day. The thousands of pairs of shoes given during the drive are specially processed before being packed. Each is tested to make sure that it has at least six months hard wear left in it. All are dusted with a special powder to protect them against insect attack, moisture and other deterioration during their journey to Asian and African countries. Mrs R. Ritchie, the assistant area organiser for C.0.R.5.0., said yesterday that only flat shoes were sent away. A total of 9000 pairs was dispatched from last year's drive, she said. The standard of clothing given during this year's drive appeared to be higher, said Mrs Ritchie.

The clothing was being pressed into bales containing up to 500 garments each. Shipping was expected soon.