A goodwill initiative called Imagine Clothes Bank, on the lines of community refrigerators to feed the hungry, was unveiled on September 12 this year in a tiny two-bedroom apartment at Luv Kush Layout in Beretena Agrahara, Electronics City. For now, it is only open on Sundays.
Bengaluru’s boutique for the poor, which aims to ensure that the underprivileged get respect and dignity, besides the right to choose, is the brainchild of Vinod Prem lobo, melisha noronha, Nitin Kumar And VigneshWho has been extensively involved in social activities for the last few years.
“It all goes back to our college days in 2002 in St. Aloysius, Mangaluru, when we classmates started a clothes bank on the city streets for the poor,” said Lobo, who is now a communications worker with an IT company. is professional. “The clothes were collected through contributions made by the students of the city schools. The free distribution went on successfully for some time till we all completed our studies and left to pursue our careers. ”
After compromising on their careers, the friends came together again in Bengaluru, which they had left behind in Mangaluru. The result was the Imagine Trust, a charitable organization aimed at the upliftment of the economically weaker sections.
In early 2021, especially after the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown left thousands of daily wage workers and migrant workers jobless, he decided to open a clothes bank for the poor in Karnataka’s capital city.
“We started collecting old clothes through friends and acquaintances and we also campaigned among resident welfare associations in large apartment complexes in Bengaluru,” Lobo said. “The response we got has been good,” Lobo said. Meanwhile, he looked for a place to set up his boutique and finally ended up on a two-bedroom flat in Electronics City.
All kinds of clothing, including shirts, pants, skirts, saris, jackets and even blankets and drapes – some of it brand new and the rest as good as new – are displayed as neatly as any store. Two staff members ensure that the pieces are segregated by age, size and type. The money from the “sales” is used to meet the educational or medical needs of families in need.
big plans
On the first day when the doors were opened, many underprivileged families, including women and children, came in and picked up clothes suited to their needs. The team says they cater to a staggering 150 families each week.
After receiving an overwhelming response from patrons for seven consecutive Sundays, Dost is now planning to open a toy bank for underprivileged children this Children’s Day (Nov 14).
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