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The HBC Community School Uniform Bank, set up in Ōrewa to provide affordable second-hand uniforms, also repairs items, giving shorts, skirts, sweatshirts, socks and t-shirts a longer life.
It was originally run out of a church storeroom, set up by Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren, mainly for grandparents who were struggling to find affordable uniforms.
Demand was such, that last year they moved the Uniform Bank to the Hibiscus Coast Community House in Western Reserve, Ōrewa (behind Estuary Arts Centre) – a space that they have already outgrown.
Shelves are stacked high with carefully labelled uniforms from all the local primary schools and colleges, as well as some from the North Shore.
It is open to the public, staffed by volunteer Joan Western.
Some customers bring in uniforms to swap, and there is also a price guide of around $3-$20.
Hibiscus Coast Grandparents Parenting Grandchildren vice president, Donna Taylor, says a big benefit of the service is keeping uniforms in circulation longer.
All the uniforms, which are donated, are laundered and a volunteer sewer takes care of small repairs. Things like hems stapled in place, buttons missing and small rips would often see items thrown away, but repaired and pressed they look as good as new.
“New uniforms are expensive, but they are mostly good quality, so they last if cared for,” Donna says. “Also kids outgrow them quickly, so they aren’t worn for long. Only if they are damaged beyond repair, do we put them in the clothing bins for rags.”
She says while the key purpose of the Uniform Bank is to support struggling families, fabric waste is a huge environmental concern, and it is satisfying that the project keeps a lot of material out of landfill.
Over summer, before the start of Term One, the store was “crazy busy”, Donna says, but demand remains steady, with repeat customers and people hearing about it by word of mouth.
One customer said that it saved her looking “all over the Coast” for a second-hand shirt in a specific size.
“I love the convenience – it’s an amazing service,” she said.
Donna says they hope to secure funding for signs and to employ someone so they can open more than the current hours of Wednesday and Saturday, 9am-12noon.
They are also looking for a bigger space.
Donations of school uniforms in good condition, including sportswear and school shoes, can be delivered to the Community House or Ray White in Ōrewa; Love Soup (Brightside Road, Stanmore Bay), or Steps Forward (opposite Whangaparāoa McDonalds).
