Forfar church initiative gives away 1,800 school clothes in one week

Forfar church initiative gives away 1,800 school clothes in one week

St Margaret's Church in Forfar has had its busiest year yet for its school uniform pop-up shop, which gave away 1,800 items of school clothing in one week.

That's a new record for the pop-up shop. Usually, the initiative would give away about 1,000 items during the week or fortnight it was open. This year, however, they had given away 933 items by the end of the first day.

The church initiative operates twice in the summer holidays as well as in January, Easter, and October.

Most school uniforms are given away during the summer, whilst in January and October the pop-up shop gives away scarves, gloves, and winter boots. Last year, they also gave away hand-crocheted blankets.

Muriel Drummond, the convener of Mission and Outreach at St Margaret's who runs the St Margaret's pop-up shop, said she has noticed a significant increase in demand this year.

"I would say the cost of living crisis is why we're so busy," she said.

"It's an additional group of people that are coming now as well. Obviously, mortgages and food prices have gone up and if you've got two or three children it's a lot of money."

Mrs Drummond, who has been involved with the pop-up shop since it launched, said the emotional impact was massive. She noted one mother who could afford to take her children out for the day only because the pop-up shop had relieved the financial burden.

Rev Maggie Hunt, Minister at St Margaret's, started the initiative in the summer of 2015 after moving to Forfar and struggling to source a school-logo uniform for her daughter.

"When I read an article about a church up north running such a 'community hand-me-down' service we decided to try it in Forfar," she said.

The congregation has a team of volunteers who launder, iron, and label any second-hand donations.

"It is a community project that not only helps families financially but also reduces good quality clothing that can be reused, from going to landfill, making it good for the environment too," she said.

"It is just wonderful to see the impact that something so simple, so small, can have on a whole community.

"It is really is a missional idea that has helped our whole church look outwards and get involved in whatever way they can - whether that is prayer, offering to do a load of laundry, helping with teas, donating stationery items or being part of the team that manages the incoming and outgoing clothing."

Mrs Hunt estimates that the pop-up shop has given away at least 7,000 items of clothing since it was set up.

"For me, though, it is about meeting need rather than the numbers. It is seeing parents, grandparents and carers leave with a smile and feeling less worried. It is about kids happily showing off their new-to-them clothes and helping themselves to free pencils and rulers. It is happy conversations over a cup of tea about what the 'saved money' means in terms of family days out they can now afford."

To volunteer or donate, please email stmargaretsforfar@gmail.com message the church's Facebook page, or visit the church.