A van outfitted with donations is offering people experiencing poverty in Guelph and area a dignified experience for finding clothing, outerwear and footwear.
Now that Sanguen Health Centre has a larger mobile health van to service Guelph, the organization was seeking ways to use the old one, said volunteer coordinator Bree Woods.
At the same time the organization was looking for new physically-distanced ways to distribute the clothing and footwear it had accumulated, keeping physical distancing in mind.
Woods said previously the organization would have bins of clothing available for people to choose from when the van made its stops.
Now, the old van has been filled with donated clothing, as well as rolling racks and hangers like one would expect to see at a retail establishment.
Woods said the new ‘pop-up clothing rack’ model is a better way for people experiencing poverty to select the clothes they would like, while remaining free for the person who needs them.
“It’s providing dignity,” said Woods.
Racks and hangers were provided by Woods, leftover from a consignment shop once run by her mother.
“We developed this with a number of volunteers on a very small scale so we could get a good lay out and get the clothes moving,” said Woods.
The pop-up clothing rack van has made trips in Waterloo Region and Wellington County and last week followed the mobile health van on its stops at Royal City Church and 90 Carden St.
Woods said the current need for donations include layering pieces, winter outerwear and winter footwear. To make a donation contact Woods directly by email at [email protected] or call or text 226-332-3220.
“We are hoping to start it in February to come out at least once a month here,” she said.
