BY CALLIE WRIGGLESWORTH
Homelessness is an issue that affects communities all over the world. One company decided to lend a hand.
Warehouse One, a clothing store located at the Cambridge Centre, collected gently used jeans from Jan. 27 to Feb. 9. The jeans that were donated went directly to a local charity called ROOF.
ROOF (Reaching Our Outdoor Friends) is located at 242 Queen St. S. in Kitchener, and is dedicated to assisting young teens and decreasing homelessness.
The organization began in 1982 and last year served 825 youth. ROOF provides teens in need with hot food, hygiene products and clothing as well as education groups, counselling, medication and emergency shelter. It also runs a drop-in program where teens are given support and shown their options.
All 115 Warehouse One stores across Canada were accepting donations and as of Feb. 4, the Cambridge location had received 56 pairs of jeans, which is quite a jump from the number they received last year.
“Last year we received 19 pairs of jeans. We are doing a lot better this year. We are more known,” said Jessica McGrath, the assistant manager at Warehouse One in Cambridge.
This year, customers were generous with their donations. One person dropped off eight pairs.
“It is usually more than one pair. I don’t think we have had a customer yet that has just brought in one,” McGrath said.
Warehouse One collects jean donations every year around the same time. They also accept other clothing items.
Any customer who donates jeans for the charity receives 20 per cent off a purchase at the store.
“I think it is great because we are helping our local community and all of those teens in need.
“There seems to be a lot of troubled kids out there, so it is great that we are helping out,” said Leo Sibunga, a part-time sales associate at the Cambridge store.
To find out how you can help and to learn more about ROOF, visit www.roof-agency.net.
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