Three years ago, Oksana Oliynyk started donating her old clothing to charity so that others may enjoy their use. Since then, the Kyiv-based copywriter has donated six times.
“I believe that each person has the right to have nice outfits,” Oliynyk says. “In addition, getting rid of stuff from your wardrobe is like throwing out old memories to free up space for new experiences.”
For those who agree, the Kyiv Post has found places in Kyiv to give away an unwanted dress, suit or outfit. All of them use the donation to homeless people, orphanages, oncology centers and charitable foundations.
Swetr showroom
Swetr is a recent initiative by activists Victoria Dubrovska and Alyona Fedorenko. The showroom, which opened on May 19, resells donated clothing and gives the money to charity.
“The idea to create a charity showroom came about after attempts to cure my father, who had cancer and was initially misdiagnosed,” Dubrovska told the Kyiv Post. Dubrovska’s father was initially diagnosed with stage I cancer, but later doctors discovered that he actually had stage IV cancer. He died from his illness.
All proceeds from Swetr are used to import drugs unavailable in Ukraine for patients from the Kyiv City Clinical Oncology Center.
The organization accepts male, female, and children’s clothing for any season and takes old shoes and accessories. Those items that are not fit for sale are donated to social service centers.
Several Ukrainian celebrities have supported Swetr. Ukrainian singer and 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala donated a top, which was then sold for Hr 1,200 ($46). Actress and television hostess Olha Sumska donated her Christmas dress, which brought in Hr 6,200 ($240) for charity.
Since May 2019, Swetr has earned nearly Hr 40,000 ($1,530). They say they will soon buy medication for people with cancer for Hr 9,500 ($365). The rest of the money they spent on rent and staff salaries.
Charity Showroom Swetr. 50 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St. 1 p. m. — 8 p. m. +38063 2323147.
Murahy
Created in 2014, this platform allows people to donate and buy clothing, shoes, jewelry and household items online. The goods are delivered by Ukraine’s Nova Poshta parcel service. The money raised goes to charity.
Murahy is the project of Dmytro Fedorenko, an internet marketer and web designer, and Kateryna Alymov, who heads the nongovernmental organization Tse Nash Kyiv (This is Our Kyiv).
Murahy also allows individual users choose which charitable projects they want to support — helping children with cancer, premature babies, the military, internally displaced persons or animal shelters. Currently, the recipient foundations are Come Back Alive, Krab, Happy Paw, Svichado, Centr Dopomogy, Edinstvennaya, Kolo and Kozhen Mozhe.
Since Murahy’s launch, nearly 5,000 items were registered for sale on the site. The platform has already given almost Hr 99,000 ($3,800) to charity.
In 2018, the team behind Murahy won SME Europe’s Star Neighbour Award, a program launched by the European Parliament to support the social impact of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Charity Trading Platform Murahy. +38044 331 6229. www.murahy.com
Bank of Clothing
Bank Odyahu (Bank of Clothing) is a project by activist Yulik Kamyshnikov. In 2017, it received funding from the state budget.
It takes unwanted clothing for any season and used electronic equipment. The clothing bank only operates on Saturdays, and receives and gives out clothing at different times. Otherwise, its services are only available by appointment.
Kamyshnikov told the Kyiv Post that he wanted to create a store where every item would be free and accessible to anyone. Many people in Kyiv are ready to support such an initiative, he said.
Bank Odyahu. 34/1 Schuseva St. Sat. To give out: 10 a. m. — 12 p. m. To receive: 12 p. m. — 2 p. m. +38093 574 4424.
Hi! Legs
Created in 2018, Hi! Legs gathers used and unwanted, but otherwise high-quality shoes. It then restores them and gives them away to the needy. Since its launch, the Hi! Legs has already given 2,000 pairs of shoes to charity. The main beneficiaries are students from low-income families.
In order to receive free footwear, a person must fill out an application on Hi! Legs’ website or call the organization. Then the store will present the person with options.
Hi! Legs takes shoes of any brand. However, it does not accept low-quality leather substitutes, homemade slippers, flip-flops and felt shoes. At the end of each month, the store gives its excess shoes to charitable foundations Caritas and Lifelover.
Hi! Legs is the initiative of another Ukrainian brand, Etnodim, which creates embroidered shirts. The store’s main goals are to encourage socially conscious consumer practices and to help those in need.
Hi! Legs. 58/28 Verkhnii Val St. Mon-Fri. 10 a. m. — 8 p. m. Sat-Sun. 11 a. m. — 7 p. m. 176 Antonovycha St. (Ocean Plaza shopping mall). 10 a. m. — 10 p. m. +38097 774 7171.
Good Deeds
Created in 2005, this foundation accepts used clothing that is in good condition. It then gives them to internally displaced people, families with disabled children and people in difficult living conditions.
The foundation also encourages people to take part in the Ready for Studying 2019 charitable campaign, which aims to gather stationery, school uniforms and athletic shoes for 500 children from low-income families and children living with disabilities. The campaign is an annual tradition since 2014.
Additionally, the foundation provides assistance to socially vulnerable groups and supports projects aimed at protecting the environment as well.
Good Deeds. 77 Saksahanskoho St. 10 a. m. — 6 p. m. +38068 023 5114.
