It doesn’t cost to care, says Coulton
SoHo Boutique owner urges J’cans to donate new, used clothing to charity
JAMAICANS ARE being given a chance to enhance the lives of female wards of the State this Christmas at no cost to them.
Michele Coulton, owner of SoHo Boutique, is encouraging clients and other members of the public to donate new or gently used clothing, which will be given to the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) for people in need.
Coulton told The Gleaner in an interview that the organisation has been making a difference in the lives of the young women for the past five years, noting that the support has been tremendous.
“It’s (response) overwhelming. It brings you to tears. The ladies involved (CPFSA), from the management all the way down, they are so grateful for the help. We may not feel that we are doing enough, but when a new or gently used dress reaches a young lady, who had nothing the entire year, it’s making a big difference in her confidence level,” Coulton said.
PROUD AND EXCITED
“This is our sixth year, and we are very proud and excited. To keep anything going, it requires effort, and my staff and our clients have been so supportive about making sure that it continues. What I have observed is that people just want to give. They want an outlet where you can give and feel satisfied, having extended some sort of kindness to someone in need.”
Coulton said that persons can drop off items starting today through to the end of January. The business owner said, however, that they prefer to hand over during the Christmas period.
“We are asking for people to look in their closet, see what has been gently used and just bring it in. I am looking for the same, or even better, response because it’s not going to hurt their pockets. That’s the genius of this programme. It doesn’t cost to care.”
In extending a Christmas message, she said, “We have been experiencing so much violence over this year that I think we need to dig deep as a country. We just have to be kind to each other, and our programme is geared in that direction, where we are looking out for the less fortunate. It could be any one of us that is in a girls’ home but for the grace of God.”