“These small, caring interactions are at the heart of Thread Together”
Justice & Advocacy
“Since late 2020 when the van arrived on the back of a truck at St Andrew’s, Indooroopilly amid a COVID-19 lockdown, we have come a long way,” shares Anglicare’s Kate Littman-Kelly on Thread Together
It’s Sunday night outside St John’s Cathedral, and there’s a group gathering as the Thread Together mobile wardrobe pulls into the parking lot. Most people are homeless; many have been sleeping rough.
As the van driver climbs out, there’s a shouted greeting as one of the group makes his way through to the van.
“Hey there, Wendy!”
“Hi there, Matt – how you going?”
As they chat and laugh, Ron emerges from the passenger side with Bo the dog. Bo has become an integral part of the Sunday night team and is missed when he’s not there.
These small, caring interactions are at the heart of Thread Together.
Since late 2020 when the van arrived on the back of a truck at St Andrew’s, Indooroopilly amid a COVID-19 lockdown, we have come a long way.
We have dressed nearly 10,000 customers in brand-new clothing and shoes at 48 unique sites across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Laidley, Ipswich, the North Coast and Moreton Bay, keeping clothing out of landfill and people in need clothed with dignity.
We made our first outreach “road trip” to support the regional communities of Gayndah and Bundaberg (with the support of the local Anglican Church faith communities) and we opened a Clothing Hub at St Andrew’s to enable people the time and dignity of shopping for clothing they feel good in.
There are many moments to remember. The young people from a Youth Justice centre stand a little taller as they get work-ready through Thread Together, confident that they “fit in” for job interviews and the work environment. Other Year 12s have smiles from ear to ear as they try on formal wear, enabling them to participate in the same “rite of passage” as their friends.
Back to Sunday night, and it’s busy. Wendy and Ron are kept occupied with a flow of customers in need of new shoes, trousers and underwear — basic items of clothing that don’t last long in a life on the streets
Before they pack up, Ron checks on Bo’s whereabouts. He’s curled up asleep on the steps of the Cathedral, with the arms of a young girl wrapped around him, taking comfort from his warmth.
She’s one of a growing number of customers we’re seeing as the cost of living crisis bites ever harder.
The need for clothing, shoes and underwear for individuals and families is continuing to climb, and donations of new stock are always welcome.
So we need your help. If you know of a fashion brand retailer, wholesaler or manufacturer in Queensland (especially for clothing, such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans, socks and shoes) who has new excess or sample stock that they would considered donating to Thread Together Queensland, please let us know.
We never sell donations and do not charge to collect items from the donor’s warehouse or store.
Editor’s note: If you have questions or need more information, please contact Kate Littmann-Kelly, Thread Together Qld Coordinator, at klittmann-kelly@anglicaresq.org.au or on 0408 569 164.
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