Why Thread Together Needs Your Help To Continue To Clothe Communities In Need

Our charity partner, Thread Together, is busier than ever.

“Prior to the lockdown we were hosting more than 100 volunteers per week and due to restrictions we’ve had to scale back to less than 10 volunteers,” says Anthony Chesler, CEO of Thread Together. In the first wave of the pandemic we shared an update on how the vital work of our charity partner was being impacted – an organisation who are working hard to support the basic human right of clothing those in need, whether they’re in emergency accommodation, those fleeing domestic violence, those out of work, and more. And now, faced with further lockdowns, we check back in with Anthony and the team to find out how they’re navigating getting to those most in need, without the hands-on help that companies, like THE ICONIC, provide.

“One of the biggest challenges at the start of lockdown was the dent to the number of volunteers that usually come to the warehouse and help us to sort, pick and pack,” Anthony says. “Mostly our volunteers are now coming from the community as corporate companies have postponed their volunteer programs.”

Thread Together is busier than ever with demand for their services at an all-time high. “Right now, we are providing brand new wardrobes to more than 2,000 people in need all around the country. Initially this demand was coming out of Melbourne and to respond to the demand, we have opened a new clothing hub in Ballarat in regional Victoria and launched a new mobile wardrobe service in Melbourne. More recently we have had a significant spike in South-West Sydney.”

If you're looking for an organisation to support during this time, in a safe and socially distanced way, remarkably, for $5 – little more than a coffee – Thread Together is able to provide an entire wardrobe to a person in need and you can donate here.

Volunteers packing at Thread Together's warehouse.

As well as stock donations from THE ICONIC and other retailers, Thread Together relies upon the man-power and donated time of volunteers and with many of its charity partners ceasing to provide face-to-face outreach services in the form of staff, the organisation has had to adapt to remote ways of operating. “We’ve introduced a virtual gift card service via referrals. To access this service, our partner agencies are connecting us with people in need. Individuals and families introduced to us are provided with access to our online wardrobe to ‘shop’ for essentials, at no cost.”

But the volume of support needed just keeps growing. “Since the start of this calendar year the number of orders have increased month on month and the volume of units of clothing being distributed has exceeded 50,000 units per month (5 times increase since January). In June 2021, we distributed a record 71,000 units of clothing and shoes.”

As an essential service Thread Together has been able to start to increase the number of volunteers, but monetary and excess stock donations are still a desperate need.

If you would like to donate the price of your morning coffee, you can do so here.

I'll donate the cost of a coffee