Aug. 14, 2017–On Friday, September 15, Austin will invite the homeless, and anyone in need to it’s second-ever Street Store — a one-day pop-up store providing free clothing to the homeless, or anyone in need. The event is being organized by SpareFoot, the largest marketplace for storage, who is partnering with the Central Presbyterian Church and Mitscoots Outfitters to bring The Street Store to life.
In 2015, SpareFoot organized Austin’s first-ever Street Store. Staffed by about 45 SpareFoot volunteers, The Street Store provided a personalized shopping experience and close to 1,000 pounds of donated clothing to more than 200 homeless people in Austin.
This year’s event will be held in the courtyard of the Central Presbyterian Church on Friday, September 15 from 9am to 2pm. Each shopper will have the opportunity to pick out five free pieces of clothing with personal shopping assistance from a volunteer. The first 200 shoppers will leave with care packages from Mitscoots Outfitters filled with hats, beanies, scarves and socks for Street Store shoppers to take with them.
Donations of men and women’s clothing, shoes, and outerwear are needed to make The Street Store a success. Men’s clothing, outerwear and shoes are especially needed. Members of the Austin community are invited to drop off donations at the SpareFoot offices located at 720 Brazos Street, Suite B700 (located at the corner of 7th and Brazos) during business hours.
A scene from SpareFoot’s last Street Store in Austin, Tx.
Mitscoots Outfitters is an Austin-based clothing company that gives a high quality item to someone in need for every item they sell and employs individuals transitioning out of homelessness to package up their gear.
“SpareFoot is based in downtown Austin, and employees see and interact with members of the homeless community everyday,” said SpareFoot CEO Chuck Gordon. “The Street Store is a great opportunity for genuine human connection, and to help provide those that don’t have the resources with a dignified shopping experience,” he said.
According to a Jan. 2017 count by the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO), about 2,036 Austinites are currently experiencing homelessness. Around 800 of those are unsheltered, living in cars, tents or parks, under bridges or on the streets. Another 800 live in shelters and other safe havens around the city, which usually force them to leave early in the morning. Nearly 400 people are living in transitional housing.
To get information about volunteering, and for updates on Austin’s Street Store, be sure to RSVP to the event on Facebook.
Founded in 2014, The Street Store set up its first pop-up shop in Cape Town, South Africa. Since then, more than 670 Street Store events have been held around the world. The “world’s first rent-free, premises-free, free “pop-up clothing store for the homeless” is found entirely on the street and stocked by donations.
SpareFoot.com is the largest marketplace for storage, making it easier to move and store your stuff. Our website lets you find and compare the best storage deals near you, and instantly rent online or by phone for free. With the most up-to-date information on storage available, SpareFoot makes finding your stuff a home the easiest thing to cross off your to-do list.
