If you have a collection of books, clothes, utensils, groceries and toys left untouched for a while and have been wondering how to put them to good use, here is a chance to make a difference.
All you have to do is keep the items neatly packed and dial 7306700700. A van, facilitated by Vizag Smiles, will be sent to your neighbourhood to pick up the stuff. The collected goods will then head towards the processing unit set up at Madhurawada where they will be sorted, sanitised, washed and packed before distributing them to the needy.
Launching the first of its kind donation van supported by a dedicated processing unit that houses washing machines and laundry care products along with a dedicated staff in the City of Destiny on Saturday, founder and CEO of Encore India BPO Services and founder of Vizag Smiles, Raghu Pokala, said: “The focus is not just on donating clothes but covers a wide range of products that will be useful to others located in neighbourhoods and remote hamlets.” Vizag Smiles, an NGO and a CSR initiative of Encore India, took the concept of the US-based GoodWill stores and adapted it to suit the local needs and improve economic conditions of the poor.
Effective concept
“It is an effective concept to reach out to people. Besides donating over 150 saris and salwar suits that are in saleable condition to the needy, my son will also contribute a part of his first salary to the cause by investing in a brand new commercial washing machine for the purpose,” says Kankatala Mallik, CMD of Kankatala Group after flagging off the first donation van at Dabagardens.
Terming it as a new avenue to create employment opportunities, Tyler Julliard of Bean Board, said that such thrift store system will not only take the concept of donation to the next level by involving communities but also create job opportunities. Meenakshi Anantram of Rohit Memorial Trust and P. Santosh of Ken Foundation, who extend support to the initiative, and secretary of Kirlampudi Residents’ Welfare Association Uday Shirname were part of the donation van launch programme.
