Moments before they鈥檙e allowed inside, about 30 people are already lined up outside the back of the gym at North Delta Evangelical Church.
With them are strollers, shopping bags, boxes and the occasional child or two.
They鈥檝e arrived for a bonanza of sorts 鈥� their choice of free clothes, provided by an aptly named Aldergrove-based charity Clothes2U.
The previous night, founder Ernie Jantzen spent more than two hours loading the items onto nearly 20 tables, sorted by type: Men鈥檚/women鈥檚 clothes, baby clothes, linens, footwear and diapers.
There are also sections for toys and personal items such as books, movies, music and myriad household items.
And yes, it鈥檚 all free.
From left: Volunteer Dawn Lewis, founder Ernie Jantzen and client/volunteer Leslie Saumier.
At 10 a.m., the gym becomes a beehive of activity, like a retail store on Boxing Day.
Jantzen has been doing this about twice a month for the past nine years, bringing Clothes2U to churches from Richmond to Abbotsford.
Clothes2U doesn鈥檛 belong to any particular church, but its links with churches in the communities gives the charity plenty of opportunity to help 鈥� and to receive support in the form of donations and volunteers.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of work, but it鈥檚 what I signed up for,鈥� says Jantzen. 鈥淭here鈥檚 such a need for this, that it鈥檚 an ever-expanding endeavour.鈥�
The merchandise, he explains, comes from private donations as well as retail stores.
鈥淲e actually do retailers a favour because they have merchandise they can鈥檛 sell.鈥�
Jantzen explains that stores would have to pay to dispose of items that can鈥檛 be sold due to light damage or soiling.
鈥淏ut we can take it. We can give it away. This way it goes to people who need it and a lot of people can鈥檛 afford it.鈥�
When events are planned, word to those in need gets out through sponsoring churches, Facebook, Craigslist, the Clothes2U website and other community agencies.
鈥淚 feel really blessed when people walk out with garbage bags,鈥� says Janzen. 鈥淟ook at the people we helped. That really gives one a sense of accomplishment.鈥�
Sometimes clients even give back.
On this day, while her boyfriend Allen Goodfellow browsed the book section, Leslie Saumier came to look for clothes and books.
But at other Clothes2U events, she has helped Jantzen set up shop.
For more information, to donate clothes or money (for gas), to see upcoming events or to volunteer with the non-profit society, visit www.clothes2u.ca or call 604-857-4617.
bjoseph@surreyleader.com
