Calgary clothing bank aims to help locals amid affordability challenges

A Calgary non-profit is looking to help clothe those most in need.

The Love with Humanity Association has started a clothing bank in the Saddleridge N.E. area.

Amid affordability and cost of living challenges, organizer Syed Hassan says he saw a need to help people in his community.

“Cost of living is really high, so we decided to have something [like] a food bank,” said Hassan.

“If you have new clothes, you can drop [them] off. If you need clothes, you can come anytime. You can take new clothes, the stall is open 24/7,” said Hassan.

While the initiative is still in its early stages, Hassan says the association has already received a great response from the community.

“For the last two days, it has been very busy. We have received a lot of requests from different communities,” Hassan told CityNews Wednesday.

“Calgarians are very happy, and they appreciate this thing.”

The first clothing bank is at 75 Saddlelake Way N.E.

Syed Hassan constructs a box to hold supplies in Calgary. Hassan is the main organizer for Love for Humanity Association, a non-profit that’s motto is “Our gift as for the communities.”

This isn’t the first community program Love for Humanity Association has kickstarted.

In 2018, the organization launched community libraries — with a single one in Hassan’s front yard. That program has since expanded to 24 libraries throughout Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, and Okotoks.

Food bank were next on the list, with the association starting that new initiative in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. Love for Humanity now runs eight food banks.

In addition to these various programs, the association also holds seminars, does outreach work, and supports the community in other ways.