Comes that time of year, after Tu Bishvat, when spring is in
the air and baalebustas' thoughts turn to Pesach
cleaning, closets, old clothing and new. This is busy season
for clothing gemachs the world over and we try to make the
best of it before it becomes overwhelming.
Actually, it was right after Succos that, as coordinator of
the Beged Yad LeYad network of clothing centers, I was
approached by the Ladies Relief Committee of Manchester.
Aside from the half-dozen full containers of excellent USED
clothing which they annually ship to the various clothing
centers in Eretz Yisroel, this organization also has a
blessed project of providing NEW clothing for children before
Yom Tov. And they needed a letter from someone intimately
involved in the distribution to give oomph to their Pesach
fundraising campaign.
Beged Yad LeYad Spotlight
I.
Beged Yad L'Yad Centres
UK Address: 13 Broom Lane, Salford M7 4EQ [got that,
readers?]
28 Cheshvan / Nov. 30, 05
Dear Ladies Relief Committee and all the wonderful people who
are behind wonderful things!
I am a relative newcomer to the clothing gemach scene,
but in my over a dozen years, I have come to appreciate what
a tremendous undertaking this is — at all ends of this
colorful spectrum. I like to think that Hashem looks down at
global network of chessed encompassing so many people,
and is very, very happy.
Used clothing is one thing, a very important thing,
especially when we are talking about high quality items that
gladden a person's heart, be it the mother, the child, the
neighbor who does the shopping or the neighbor who is the
recipient, or the happy grandmother who outfits her family.
All are blessed; all bless.
Families that subsist on food baskets, and families that are
not so poor but are marrying off children, all feel good
about coming to `shop' at a tidy establishment that does not
attach a stigma and where they can get items they can well
afford. Like one mother who said to her child, "You can pick
out whatever you like, here. We can afford it."
But there comes a time when children need new clothing, too.
How to attire a family of ten children, par for the course,
with a wedding, bar mitzva or Yom Tov coming up? Last year's
clothing doesn't fit, is no longer presentable, cannot be
handed down. Then, again, neighbors and classmates might
ridicule a child in fashions worn five years ago. In this day
and age, it is a legitimate reason.
Being familiar with our regular clientele who `make do,' I
have referred many a worthy mother to your coordinator in
Eretz Yisroel for new clothing, and they have blessed me,
her, and the generous donors. We are talking about large
families, families with special-needs-children, baalos
tshuvah switching over wardrobes, single-parent or
`blended' families, including so many orphans to our regret,
and Bnei Torah subsisting on a bare minimum of food . . .
A new white shirt, a fresh pair of trousers, a dress that
will be worn Shabbos in and Shabbos out, for children who are
truly deprived. Their joy is indescribable.
Make this project possible for as many children as you can;
these are the future Bnei Torah, the future mothers of Klall
Yisroel. Give them an Oneg Shabbos; share their joy.
II.
I don't know why this letter was not acceptable. Someone in
England replaced it with the following, sent to me for my
approval and signature:
"There is a very special woman in Yerusholayim who was
invited to a used clothing gemach in a dark damp
basement. She was delighted to find amongst a mountain of
other clothing — a long knitted scarf.
"She took it home, washed it, unravelled it and knitted two
cardigans for her children. She bought some bright buttons
and behold — they each had a new garment . . . Etc.
"Before Succos we spent 23,000 St. and clothed 2,000 children
. . . "
I read it and was dismayed but also amused...
III.
4 Shevat
Beged Yad L'Yad Centres
UK Address: 13 Broom Lane, Salford M7 4EQ [got that,
readers?]
Dear Relief Committee,
I was confused by your letter which replaced my own. I feel
you misrepresent our clothing gemachim!!!
Yes, we are located in basements, but they are not dark or
damp. We have invested a great deal of money in lighting and
I believe that the atmosphere in our establishments is not
what you portrayed. We certainly don't have "mountains of
clothing." I even felt insulted. You have no idea how many
hours of womenpower are invested before we open our doors to
the public each time — sorting, hanging, folding,
discarding, pairing, snipping off buttons and so many other
things. Sweeping, throwing out tons of garbage, so that
people can feel comfortable buying by us.
Our customers actually look forward to coming and seeing what
is new in our boutique because we are unpredictable as to
bargains and offer a very wide range of styles.
Furthermore, we have such a large selection that NO ONE need
knit any more. [Tell me, in ye olde England they still do?]
In fact, here they don't. Our customers, anyway, wouldn't
have the time since they are blessed with large families and
come to us to save time as well as money. We have dozens of
cardigans in all colors, sizes, styles. Indeed, our customers
wouldn't even bother knitting because they know if they don't
find something the first time, they will find something else
to have made the visit worth their while, and will come back
to try again.
I wish you could see our showcases and our happy customers
for yourselves. Actually, if I was a clothing donor at your
end, I would not be too eager to continue giving clothing if
it will end up in a "mountain of other clothing."
And so, to correct any misconceptions, I hereby extend a very
hearty invitation to any visitors from the UK to a guided
tour in any of our affiliated centers. So whoever wrote that
letter, update them, please, as to what a gemach is
these days.
All in good spirits, I hope you realize, and for the sake of
the cause!
Tizku lemitzvos.
IV.
At this point, I still don't know where we stand and which
letter will go to the mailing campaign. In any case, I am
giving them bona fide publicity by printing this.
And I do have a lovely story to tell, which is what prompted
me to write this for our readers:
Shirah lives in the same building of one our many centers.
She comes down yesterday, wearing her somaiach
bechelkah beatific smile as she always does, with a two-
week-old infant in her arms and a request, "Can I take your
button box upstairs for ten minutes?" We do have an ongoing
demand for the buttons we cut off discarded clothing and
package for sale, but we can spare the box for that long . .
.
Shirah comes back. "Wondering why I need it? I'm making my
first bar mitzva this month. I really have an outfit
[perhaps, even bought by us] but I wanted to freshen it up,
to give it a new look with some fancy buttons you have
here."
I hugged her and wished her a hearty Mazel Tov on baby and
big brother. Shirah is not a nebich by far; she has
real style and dresses very well, thanks to her downstairs
`boutique,' and is not at all ashamed of it, which is why I
took the liberty of writing about her! And I pass on one of
her favorite sayings to one and all:
"I love shopping here because I can see how the clothing will
look after a few washings, which you can't say for new
clothing!"
So, dear UK readers, you have seen the story from the `top of
the mountain'. Now note the address and show your good
side.
And please take us up on our offer to visit next time you're
here!
Sincerely,
Sheindel Weinbach (tel. 02-5372303)
Loosely affiliated gemachim: in Jerusalem —
Mattersdorf, Geula, Bayit Vegan, Har Nof, Neve Yaakov; Telz
Stone; also in Beitar; Kiryat Sefer; Elad
