As August comes to an end and families rush to complete their back-to-school shopping, a longstanding source of free clothing and household items in Guelph is preparing for its busiest season to clothe those in need.
Lisa Burke, coordinator of the Clothing Closet, said at first glance the operation is a thrift store with no cash register, but it’s what happens behind the scenes that is so special.
“What is really going on is more about the volunteers and about the people. Clothing is what we give away, but it’s really about building relationships,” said Burke.
The operation currently utilizes about 65 volunteers and last year 4,200 volunteer hours were logged in total.
“Most of these hours — 60 per cent of them — come from volunteers who were customers first,” noted Burke.
The Clothing Closet offers clothing, outerwear, shoes and boots, books, toys for children aged four and up and household items.
It does not carry furniture or electric appliances.
The demographic of those who use the service — people Burke calls ‘customers’ — is anyone having a hard time making ends meet.
“That can be mental health challenges, addiction, single parents, recent immigrants, disability, that kind of thing,” she said.
Many of the customers walk in from the Brant Avenue neighbourhood where the church is located.
“It’s kind of an under-served neighbourhood as far as social programs go, so the church fills a need,” said Burke.
One of those identified needs is a place for people to gather and network, which the ministry is seeking to fill by offering a café on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Starting in September.
The café concept was piloted last May and Burke said it was an instant success.
“People who didn’t know each other were sitting down and having a coffee together,” said Burke.
Everything the café serves is complimentary.
The Clothing Closet is open Thursday and Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. To 12 p.m. And operates on the honour system, meaning people are not required to show proof of need to use it’s services.
“For a family that is really struggling financially, because there are so many other issues going on in their lives, finding the things they need — food and clothing — takes up way more energy than for somebody who doesn’t have that struggle. It just makes life a little bit easier when we take off the squeeze,” said Burke.
The Clothing Closet on Victoria Road N is operated as a ministry of New Life Church and is located in the rear of the building on Victoria Road N.
The fall, specifically October, is the busiest time of the year for the CLothing Closet, as people come looking for winter outerwear and boots.
The shop accepts donations of gently used and unwanted new items, but asks that items not be left outside the church after hours.
One rack of product in the showroom Wednesday was filled with school backpacks and lunch bags.
“These will probably all be gone by the end of tomorrow morning,” said Burke.
