Wilmot Rd Community Hub leader Sarah Pearson is grateful for the support of this year's event.
More than 400 locals now have a new outfit in their wardrobe that they didn’t pay a cent for.
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In the lead-up to winter, Wilmot Rd Community Hub leader Sarah Pearson collected donations for the hub’s annual free clothes event.
This year’s response was huge.
“I took donations for six weeks from amazing community members, including Resolute Gym, who are big supporters of the hub,” Ms Pearson said.
“It’s the most we have had donated to date.”
On top of the increase in donations, patronage also swelled to more than double last year, with 429 adults and children passing through the doors during the two-day event on June 26 and 27.
More than double the amount of people attended the event this year from last year.
“Our new principal, Ms Dickins, has been very supportive of the event, allowing me to use the school gym for the first time, which allowed us to have more tables, more clothes out at the one time and room to move between those tables,” Ms Pearson said.
“This made it so much easier for attendees to browse tables, actually see the items without clothes ‘avalanches’, and especially for mums manoeuvring prams.
People came from near and far to choose a new item for their wardrobe, including some women from Yarrawonga, who drove to Shepparton specifically for the event.
Ms Pearson said the leftover clothing items would be donated to The Salvation Army North East Youth Services youth participation worker Jim Gow for an upcoming care day event as part of Homelessness Week.
“They will hopefully be able to reach a few more community members in need,” Ms Pearson said.
“I want to give a massive shout out to my amazing volunteers, Meg, Sharleen, my mum, Frances, and husband, Anthony, Darryl, and my beautiful crochet ladies, Sharon, Kerryn, Lyn and Rosina, who helped make this day possible.”
Wilmot Rd Community Hub leader Sarah Pearson and volunteer Sharleen Bachelor at the free clothes event.
Ms Pearson initiated the event to help disadvantaged community members clothe their families after noticing prices for second-hand clothing had risen to the same cost as brand new items in stores such as Kmart.
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