Pop-up store caters to those in need

Edmontonians needing a helping hand to get ready for winter were treated to a personalized free shopping experience at Boyle Street Community Services on Saturday thanks to the work of nearly 100 volunteers.

University of Alberta students and community volunteers set up a temporary clothing store and helped customers pick out as much as they needed from a selection of donated clothes, jackets, shoes and toiletries.

This is the fourth year the University of Alberta student group Multiplying Equality has organized the Street Store event, which member Corey Tran described as a “clothing drive formatted as a dignified shopping experience where people can grab items they like.”

The student group spent the last three weeks collecting donations in anticipation of clothing more than 200 people from marginalized groups, including homeless, immigrants and families living in poverty.

You learn a lot of people are born into poverty and that it’s OK if you’re in need to go for help.

Volunteer Anastasia Struzhko, 16, helped a taller customer find a few pairs of pants long enough to fit as well as a pair of boots, a jacket and a new bag that was easier to carry.

“You can really connect with people,” said the high school student of her experience volunteering. “You learn a lot of people are born into poverty and that it’s OK if you’re in need to go for help. No one is a lesser individual. Everyone is equal.”

Among a group of customers was Prince Ndumuhanga, 22, who attended with his young cousins and friends after hearing about the event from Catholic Social Services.

“Winter is new to me, even today,” said Ndumuhanga, who came to Canada from Congo three years ago. “I arrived in Montreal and it was -18 C. I came from a place where it’s always 30, 35 degrees.”

After moving to Canada, Ndumuhanga spent three months learning English, then worked for a construction company to help support his family. He lost his job a few months ago and now hopes to attend school to become an electrician or a plumber.

While he once had dreams of becoming a lawyer or a judge, the amount of education required — including improving his English and upgrading high school courses — is too expensive and would take too many years to complete, he said. Still, Ndumuhanga enjoys living in Canada.

“I can walk outside at 2 a.m. with no intimidation, no harassment. In Africa you had to stay inside after eight or nine at night.”