How often do you find yourself going shopping and treating yourself to new clothes? It’s a common occurrence. Right? We all love to dress up and present ourselves well. But have you ever stopped to think about those who don’t have the means to buy new clothes? In a world where fashion trends change rapidly, there are still many people who struggle to meet their basic needs, including clothing. Amid this reality, noble organisations are working tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate. One such NGO is the Clothes Box Foundation which has taken it upon itself to collect and distribute clothes to those in need. Founded by Sajan Veerr Abrol and Naman Ahluwalia in 2014, the NGO primarily focuses on individuals and families lacking basic necessities.
Let’s hear what Sajan has to share with us about the Clothes Box Foundation:
1. What inspired you to start this NGO and focus on donating clothes to the needy?
The inspiration behind starting the Clothes Box Foundation comes from our passion for achieving sustainability, reducing our carbon footprint, and addressing the basic need for clothing as a resource available for all. With a dual focus on donating clothes to the needy and repurposing clothes to reduce fabric waste in landfills, we aim to address these interconnected challenges.
Many individuals and families lack necessities like clothing. Through our NGO, we strive to bridge this gap by collecting and distributing clothes to those in need, ensuring they have adequate clothing.
Repurposing clothes is a vital component of our mission to promote sustainability. The fashion industry is known for its significant environmental impact, including fabric waste that ends up in landfills. By repurposing clothes, we divert these textiles from landfill and give them a new life.
2. Could you shed light on the process of collecting and distributing donated clothes?
We operate a nationwide clothes collection drive, enabling donors from across the country to contribute through our doorstep pickup service. Our primary purpose behind this initiative is to encourage more and more people to donate their clothes.
To ensure its success, we have volunteers across India who conduct these drives in their respective regions and send the donated items to us for further processing. After we receive the collected clothes, the first step involves sorting them based on age and gender groups.
3. What challenges have you faced in running the organisation and facilitating clothing donations?
The primary challenge is creating awareness about our NGO and its mission. To reach out to potential donors and spread the message of clothing donation, we engage in marketing, public relations, and community engagement. Building a network of dedicated volunteers has been crucial to our success. We have attracted individuals who are passionate about our mission and willing to contribute their time and skills.
As we continue to grow, we are also expanding in terms of warehousing and space. With the increasing volume of donated clothes, having sufficient storage capacity becomes essential. We are actively exploring options to secure suitable warehouse facilities that can accommodate our needs.
4. Can you share any success stories or examples of how your organisation has positively impacted the lives of individuals through clothing donations?
At the Indo Pak Border, there are many isolated villages in Rajasthan where the army has the sole access. This is an area cut off from the world and in need of support. These are the communities which need the maximum attention and support. This is where we distribute clothes to make a difference and show our support to the community that no one else could reach.
It took a team of 34 individuals, 5 socially responsible corporate partners, a logistical effort of covering over 3,000KM, coordinated efforts with the Indian Army, with upcycling and recycling of over 5 tons of waste fabric to impact 5,000 lives in and around Longewala, Rajasthan.
5. How can individuals or groups contribute and support your organisation’s clothing donation efforts?
Every individual can extend their support by a simple donation of clothes or volunteering for a collection drive within their community. Currently, many young volunteers run collection drives in their schools and society to raise awareness and extend their help. Many clothes distribution drives were possible with the help and support of organisations, companies and the Indian Army.
6. What are your long-term goals for the organisation? Are there any plans to expand or diversify your services in the future?
Our long-term goals revolve around expanding and diversifying our services to make a greater impact. One of our primary objectives is to enhance our door-to-door pickup service facility, making the donation process more accessible for individuals and organisations who want to contribute.
Additionally, we are committed to efficiently repurposing every inch of garment we receive. Our ultimate target is to ensure that nothing ends up in landfills. Our goal is to repurpose over 5 lakh tonnes of clothing by 2025.
Empowering women is another integral part of our organisation’s vision. In a remarkable symbiosis, women play a leading role in our operations. We provide them with the opportunity to learn new skills and actively engage them in the recycling and repurposing processes. By equipping them with knowledge and training, we foster their independence and contribute to their economic empowerment.
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