From Clutter to Community

Early in 2000 after I de-cluttered my wardrobe I didn't know what to do with the clothes I no longer wore. Throwing away good clothes seemed wasteful so I put them in cartons to deal with later. Then there was a light-bulb moment: why not sell them and raise revenue for our services at Christian Action?

Happy that it would protect our environment, create opportunities for employment and provide good clothing for the needy among us, I committed the idea to the Lord as I usually do and waited for guidance.

After church that Sunday, a friend who knew nothing of my idea, came and said: "I was praying for you, and I'm not sure what this means but I believe God gave me a vision of you standing in a warehouse full of boxes." This was confirmation that my clutter could help the community!

Our new store front in Kowloon City

I went to our placement department with the idea of CA having a green collection and community outlet - and they laughed at me! They asked: Who will buy clothes that have already been worn by someone else? I answered that question by going home, taking my cartons outside my housing estate and selling all my unwanted clothes for HK$300!!

Since the Green Collection programme began in 2003, our Social Enterprise initiative has steadily expanded. The latest news is that we've just opened our newest Community Sales Outlet in Kowloon City! More than 4,300 tons of new and used clothes have been donated. This wouldn't be possible without generous donors in our community like Mr. Deepak Nagrani, who made a sizeable donation for his 50th birthday and continues to help generate funds for those less fortunate! It was an honour to meet with him recently at the new shop and personally thank him for his kindness.

Please stop by one (or all) of our Community Sales Outlets or consider donating. Both gestures will impact our great city! Here's to green living and happy shopping!