Restoring one’s self-respect
One thing the homeless can’t find rummaging through a rubbish dump is dignity.
The odd piece of clothing and food scraps – not so difficult.
But a charity organisation hoped to change that for a day with a pop-up store that will allow Auckland’s homeless and vulnerable to select donated winter items without losing their pride.
Not-for-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity’s Henderson store will organise a local version of a global initiative called The Street Store in June.
Shelley Green, manager of Habitat for Humanity’s Henderson outlet, said she got the idea for the pop-up store at the start of summer last year.
Green said they could not put the items on the shop floor and she knew more donations would come in winter.
That’s when she decided the best option would be to collect the winter items for The Street Store.
Green said they were still looking for more donations – especially warm jackets, jerseys, shoes and sleeping bags for The Street Store. The day will also have music and free food too.
‘‘So many people just walk past homeless and just don’t look at them and they become part of the concrete jungle.’’
The Street Store will run at Corban Estate Arts Centre at 2 Mt Lebanon Ln in Henderson on June 10.
Those interested in donating items beforehand can do so at the Habitat for Humanity store at 7 Dora St, Henderson.