TORONTO– Cold weather brings one thing: warm clothes. What if you could not provide a warm snow suit for your child? Yonge Street Mission’s (YSM) annual clothing drive launched this week.
Volunteers along Toronto’s 30 kilometre underground PATH network are collecting gently used clothing in support of Yonge Street Mission’s Double Take store.
“Double take is an employment solutions initiative,” said Angie Draskovic, CEO and president of Yonge Street Mission. “It give us an opportunity to train and employ people in the community, and it’s also a store.”
Draskovic says YSM receives the bulk of clothing that is needed for the store, from the clothing drive. She said about 6,000 bags of donated clothing are collected each year. The clothing is then transported to Double Take located at Parliament Street and Gerrard Street, where it is washed, pressed and labelled. Draskovic says clothing is priced low and while the store mainly caters to communities in Regent Park, Moss Park and St. Jamestown, it is open to everyone.
The volunteer driven event recruited more than 375 volunteers last year, but there’s always one volunteer that stands out.
“I open my closet in the morning and I have personal choice,” said Alana Walker Carpenter. She’s volunteered at the clothing drive for 16 years. “I recognize that there’s a lot of people that don’t have choice…Clothing provides a real sense of dignity.”
For others involved with the clothing drive, volunteering gives them an opportunity to help an organization that once helped them.
“I’ve been on that side of the system…I have experienced homelessness,” said Christopher Priestley, YSM volunteer coordinator. “Part of my wanting to volunteer with Yonge Street Mission is to give back and try to help other people in need.”
Draskovic says while Double Take is in need of warmer items including mitts, hats, scarves, even underwear, all clothing types are welcome and can be donated directly to Double Take throughout the year.
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