A fundraiser campaign has been launched to help set up a Thanet Free Shop in Cliftonville which will offer support for those facing financial hardship.
The shop, which follows the model as Maya’s Community Support Centre in Herne Bay – founded by Maya Amangeldiyeva in 2022 – aims to provide pre-loved clothing and homeware for those who are struggling.
Heading up the campaign is Alison Barratt who is currently manager at Maya’s Herne Bay free shop.
She said: “It is the same as Maya’s, she is opening a free shop academy and wants a shop in every town.
“Margate is desperate for this, lots of people come to Herne Bay where I am manager so I spent a couple of months looking for the right property and have found one on Northdown Road.
“Everyone I have spoken to in the area has said a free shop would be fantastic.
“We have seen, firsthand, the devastating impact of people or families fleeing domestic violence, struggling with rough sleeping, house fire victims and even working families struggling with the cost of living crisis.
“We want to provide the people of Thanet a place to be able to donate pre loved items, reducing waste and carbon emissions, for them to be loved again by others in need or want.
“But we need help to fund our initial set up costs. I have set up a crowdfunding page and we have to get the funding for rent, deposit and estate agent fees.
“I really don’t want to lose it as it is perfect.”
The free shops sprung from the opening of Maya’s café in Herne Bay in 2015.
She was then helping Ukrainian families who were coming into the area after leaving conflict in their homeland and she put a clothes rail outside her café.
People began to bring unwanted items of clothing in for the Ukrainian families. And by 2022 the café was rammed with items for all of the community who needed a helping hand.
That year Maya moved premises and set up a CIC and the scheme evolved from there to include a stock room with food and then a warehouse for furniture.
The free shops are now in six towns, including Ashford, with hopes that Cliftonville will become the newest outlet. The fundraiser has a £4,000 target to cover the set up costs.
Find the fundraiser at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/thanet-freeshop
