Project Pants launched to ensure vulnerable Edinburgh residents have new underwear this Christmas

As part of the church’s annual ‘Just Christmas’ campaign, they are asking for 82,100 pairs of new undies.The number is to symbolise and raise awareness about the estimated 82,100 residents of Edinburgh that will live below the poverty line as of Spring 2021 according to the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.The church said that this Christmas they aim to ensure that the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are met for all city residents.They aim to achieve this by supporting partner organisations through donations and by providing new underwear to those who need it.Pants, socks and bras have all been requested from the public.

Collection points have been set up across the capital at Tollcross, Morningside, Buckstone, Corstorphine, Craiglockhart and Leith.Alternatively, people can donate £10 by texting “PP2020” to 70191, scanning the attached QR code or visiting give.net/projectpants.

Pastor Andy Harding had said that the church was motivated by what they had learned through running a clothes bank on behalf of Bethany Christian Trust.

They said that new and good quality underwear is in real shortage at clothes bank’s across Edinburgh.Andy Harding, executive pastor at the church, said: “It is simply not acceptable to us that this many people are going without essentials in our City and we want to do something about it as well as raise awareness about this shocking statistic from the Edinburgh Poverty Commission.”

“At our church, we also run a Christian’s Against Poverty Debt Centre offering free debt advice and are delivering a busy counselling service. We have expanded both these services in response to the pandemic. We are also thrilled to be opening a cafe hub on the 14th December serving hot drinks, soup and home baking. This will open initially on Mondays only from 10-4pm to allow people to drop in while visiting our Clothes Bank+ and Foodbank.”

More information on where to find the sites can be found on the church website and anyone wishing to become a collection point can also find the relevant information on the site.

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