A West Pinchbeck woman’s initiative that’s helped provide a literal tonne of clothes for hundreds of young children in South Holland is continuing to expand.
Kay Marsh started the Hand Me Down Hub four years ago after being furloughed during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
After identifying the need for children under six to have regular clothes, she started collecting second-hand ones to be given out to those that need it.
From her spare bedroom, it’s continuing to grow and she now has her own hub at the business centre behind South Holland District Council’s Priory Road offices.
It’s open from 10am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Wednesday for anyone who might look for clothes they can have or for those that want to drop off donations.
It also does monthly sessions at the Pinchbeck Hub on the first Saturday morning of every month from 10am. The next is this Saturday at 10am.
Since February last year Kay estimates that she’s helped 300 to 400 families and donated a total of 1.2 tonnes of clothing.
“It shows how much the need is there for this,” said Kay who has retired to donate all her time to the project.
“Many families take clothes and then bring them back when it is time for new ones but we don’t want to turn anyone away.
“Many families are really relying on it.
“It’s grown thanks to word of mouth, which is amazing.
“We are open to anyone. There’s no criteria they have to meet.
“I used to work with children as a nursery nurse, so it’s felt a little bit like going back to my roots.
“A lot of the families are so grateful.
“Just this morning I’ve had four families in who brought back the clothes they’d previously taken and chose some more. It’s lovely to be able to help.”
While it’s recently become a Community Interest Company, it has no staff with Kay one of ten volunteers who help out.
To open more often though they’d like some more people to get on board.
After linking up with the Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS), on December 9 its putting on session for potential volunteers.
More information, including some roles that Hand Me Down Hub is looking to fill is available at https://lincolnshirevolunteers.teamkinetic.co.uk/volunteers/opportunity/10258300
“A lot of those involved have got little children and partly do it because they know how vital it is,” said Key. “It does limit how much time they can do though, so we’d love to get some more volunteers.
“We’d also like some that can help us to look at getting funding.”
As Kay’s had to expand from her spare bedroom its meant storage costs.
On top of paying the rent on her public facing store the sheer amount of clothes donated means she also has a separate storage area.
“If anyone wants to fundraising for us it would be absolutely fantastic,” said Kay, of raising the money needed.
For more information on the organisation you can email [email protected] or visit its Facebook Page Hand Me Down Hub CIC.
