About 500 people living on the street had the brightest smiles as they received new and pre-loved clothing items at the Street Store held the Haven Night Shelter in Green Point on Tuesday 11 June.

The day also marked the 10th anniversary of this enterprise known as the world’s first rent-free,
premises-free, free pop-up clothing store for those less fortunate.

It was founded in 2014 and is a collaboration between Cape Town ad agency M&C Saatchi Abel and the Haven Night Shelter in Green Point.

Mike Abel, co-founder of the initiative, said the initiative’s 10th anniversary also marked the 1009th Street Store.

He added the Street Store has been held in 60 countries around the world, with more than 1 million people  clothed.

“Each person had the opportunity to take about three items and, if they had children, they could take for them as well. Whatever clothes we have left we distribute to charities around Cape Town.”

For many it was their first dignified shopping experience.

First time

Akeefah Anderson said it was her first time at the Street Store.

“It’s not every day that we get the opportunity to get things like this, it makes me happy to at least own
some new things. It makes me feel special, not neglected and it is good to know there is people taking care of us.

She explained that she will be wearing her new outfit to her sister’s 21st birthday.

Washiema Abrahams explained that she is grateful for the privilege of getting some new clothes.

Suzette van Vuuren hopes her new outfit will open doors of employment for her.

“Many times we don’t know where to go and wash our clothes. Now I at least have something to wear. I got a nice jersey, a pair of shoes that match my jersey and a pants. I am going to a place to look for work, now I can at least wear something clean, hopefully then I will get the job.”

Items for family

James August found items for his partner and 5-year-old son.

“It was a pleasure to get some new stuff for me and my family. The place where we lived
burnt down. I got woman’s shoes and a shirt for myself. I am grateful.”

There are a lot of people here in the CBD living on the street. We have made tremendous attempts to try and get them into our shelters. This is one of the main ways  we use to get them into a shelter and inform them about what we are doing and the services we offer.

READ: Street Store celebrates 10 years of giving the homeless a dignified, free shopping experience

He explained the main objective is to get them off the street.

“A lot of them have had bad experiences, and some have formed families on the street so they don’t want to be at a shelter. It is winter now and we tell them we have bed spaces available.”

He added that reunification with their families is key.

“The idea is to link them up to a shelter closest to where family members are. It makes that reunification easier and possible. We are grateful to the Street Store for their huge impact over the past 10 years. We are successful not because of what we do but because of partnerships like this.”