Garage Charity Shop Now Funds 5 Causes in Kenton-on-Sea

What started as winter coats piled in a garage has become the heartbeat of charity in a small coastal town.

Six years ago, Robbie Cameron Avis watched COVID-19 hit South Africa's Eastern Cape and knew the vulnerable community members in Kenton-on-Sea would suffer most. Through her organization Coastal Kindness, she put out a call for warm clothing donations as winter approached and people faced the cold with only what they wore.

The community responded fast. Sweaters, blankets, shoes, and coats flooded Robbie's garage, brought by masked volunteers willing to help despite pandemic risks.

Those volunteers sorted, washed, mended, and packaged every item into complete outfits for men, women, and children. They distributed nearly everything to families in need, but a few items remained: evening shoes, fancy dresses, swimsuits, and jewelry that weren't quite right for a harsh winter.

Those leftovers became the foundation of POSH Charity Shop, Kenton-on-Sea's only charity store. Today, it sits on School Road next to the padel courts, filled with pre-loved clothing, bedding, kitchenware, and home goods.

Almost 30 volunteers now keep the shop running. They price items, organize shelves, and welcome customers from every part of the community.

The Ripple Effect

Every sale does double duty in Kenton-on-Sea. Shoppers find affordable treasures while funding five local causes that serve the community's most vulnerable.

Siya Soup receives monthly donations to keep their feeding scheme going. Child Welfare gets support for their single social worker and volunteer team helping families in crisis. Domestic Animal Care uses funds to educate pet owners and spay stray animals.

Coastal Kindness continues filling gaps in health and wellness services. Most recently, Nkwenkwezi Creche started receiving lunch money for children, plus camp cots, sheets, diapers, and formula.

Robbie says the shop has become more than a funding source. It's evolved into a safe space where people drop in to chat, a treasure hunt for bargain seekers, and a hub that brings together volunteers from all backgrounds.

The dedication runs deep. Several volunteers who sorted clothes in that original garage six years ago still work regular shifts today. Each year, the shop hosts its own Oscar ceremony to honor these committed helpers who've turned giving back into a lifestyle.

From a pandemic response in a cramped garage to a permanent community institution, POSH Charity Shop proves what's possible when kindness gets organized.