Pop up charity for Cape Town’s homeless

Cape Town. 190816. Homeless Capetonians browse for clothes at the opening of Claremont’s Street Store at the Claremont Civic Centre yesterday(fri). Shoppers could take three clothing items for free, as well as a “dignity” pack of toiletries, as well as enjoying a meal and some coffee. Story Jan Cronje. Picture: LEON LESTRADE

Cape Town. 190816. Homeless Capetonians browse for clothes at the opening of Claremont’s Street Store at the Claremont Civic Centre yesterday(fri). Shoppers could take three clothing items for free, as well as a “dignity” pack of toiletries, as well as enjoying a meal and some coffee. Story Jan Cronje. Picture: LEON LESTRADE

Published Aug 20, 2016

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Cape Town - Hundreds of homeless Capetonians had the chance to do a leisurely shop for clothes, enjoy some coffee, chat over a meal and take in a bit of meditation in Claremont on Friday as the suburb hosted a Street Store.

The charity store, in the Claremont Civic Centre, was organised to let homeless Capetonians shop for free sets of clothes in a dignified environment.

The event was hosted by Pam Golding Properties Southern Suburbs.

“This is something special and wonderful,” said Lucinda Benjamin, who picked up black jeans, shoes, pyjamas and toiletries. “I usually couldn’t afford this.”

Benjamin and roughly 400 other homeless Capetonians each got to choose three free items of clothing from donated dresses, shoes, jerseys, jackets, hats and shoes, as well as accessories and belts.

They were also given “dignity packs” of essential items such as toothbrushes, toilet paper, face towels, sanitary pads and deodorant.

After shopping, they enjoyed coffee provided by Bootlegger Coffee Company, and got to snap pictures in a photo booth.

Meals were provided by the UPcycle Project, which also helped collect donations for the shop.

Lokoh, a group that seeks to empower communities with fun and inclusive events, provided music with a DJ, and facilitated spoken word poetry and meditation sessions.

If shoppers needed advice, The Haven Night Shelter was there with a stand.

“This is proof that this country works,” said the shelter’s chief executive Hassan Khan of the impressive number of donated goods. “We are here to reinforce the idea that we have to get adult homeless people off the streets.”

The concept of a free pop-up charity shop for the homeless was born in the Mother City in January 2014.

Since then it has grown in popularity with 500 events held around the world, from Brussels to Kuala Lumpur.

Weekend Argus

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