NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT COMMUNITY SERVICES
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CONTACT Community Services is excited to announce the opening of The Clothes Line thrift store in Bradford West Gwillimbury, a new location of its social enterprise. The Clothes Line is a local thrift store that will help support the community in a variety of ways, exhibiting a strong and positive social, environmental and economic impact.
The store location will work with local residents to redirect clothing and small household items from the landfill for resale at affordable prices for people of all economic backgrounds.
In addition to affordable pricing, the store also supports any person in need with free clothing - the dignity of all persons remains in tact, as people can shop for what they need. The store also strengthens community via its reliance on a committed and passionate volunteer contingent. The Clothes Line will be a place where everyone is welcome and provides a social forum to give back to community.
The Clothes Line in Bradford will be located at 95 Holland Street West, Unit 2, adjacent to the CONTACT Employment Services office (which provides free assistance and coaching to local job seekers to secure meaningful employment).
The opening of this new location would not have been possible without the support provided by a number of community donors, including local painter Guido Velasquez of Guido’s Superior Paints, Canadian Tire, Decorator’s Edge, Bradford Blinds Plus, Carolyn’s Colour Consulting, Douglas Law Firm, Mortgage Agent Debbie Viveiros, and the incredible hard work of our local Realtors Rose M. Sorbera & Anastasia Orlando (Anastasia & Rose Team – iProrealty).
The Anastasia and Rose Team – the ‘Realtors with Big Hearts’- connected with the local South Simcoe charity because they each had a personal story of hardship and expressed they were now in a position to give back.
“We each have our own story of experiencing homelessness and having to start from scratch,” said Rose Sorbera.
“Attending a meeting on this initiative I realized I was in the same boardroom space I was in five years ago when I connected for career support. Now we are in a position to give back. It is a pretty awe-inspiring experience to be on the other side and reflect on how far we have come,” commented Anastasia.
“We would not be where we are today without the support of agencies like CONTACT,” added Rose.
Thanks to their initiative, in collaboration with the CONTACT staff team, the store will host its grand opening on Dec. 1, 2021 on location from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (by invitation only due to COVID protocol).
The Clothes Line will incorporate its successes in Alliston and will be 90 per cent volunteer operated. All revenue stays local and supports CONTACT’s charitable programming and community services.
Emily McIntosh, Executive Director of CONTACT says “A social enterprise of this magnitude is 100 per cent reliant on the strength of the community of which it is embedded. It has been amazing to see the big hearts of Bradford that have made this possible. As an organization dedicated to addressing the ever-changing social needs of the community we serve, CONTACT is proud to launch this store which is a direct way to bring people from all walks of life together and then reinvest the profits into making our community the best it can be.”
Already volunteers have been engaged in set-up, including a local walking group with a social conscious, ‘The Bradford Hustlers’. Together, they teamed up with the Anastasia and Rose team to promote local coat and winter clothing collection and sorting of stock for merchandising.
“We are forever grateful to our dedicated volunteers and community partners for making possible this additional support to the folks of Bradford,” stated CONTACT Board Chair, Valerie Ellis.
The Bradford Clothes Line will be open to the public for donations every Monday and open for shopping every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. starting Dec. 1, 2021…to start. The store is actively seeking socially minded individuals looking to give back and volunteer some of their time to store operations.
With an increased volunteer contingent, store operating hours will be expanded accordingly. Donations are accepted by appointment only. Please visit our website at contactsouthsimcoe.ca for more information.
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