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Providing brand-new clothes to residents who lost everything

Announcement posted by Anglicare Southern Queensland 12 Jul 2022

Thread Together, a mobile wardrobe in a van has provided brand-new clothes to all 28 residents affected by the blaze that tore through the Bayside Lodge in Lota on Saturday night.

Dependable Care Senior Support Coordinator Jodie Simpson with Thread Together Volunteer Coordinator Kate Littmann-Kelly and the Bayside Lodge Proprietor Joanne Tomada at 2 MacDonald Street, Lota where brand-new clothes were dropped off.  

All residents and their carers were able to escape the blaze uninjured thanks to the quick-thinking staff at the home.

Thread Together Volunteer Coordinator Kate Littmann-Kelly said she was thinking of all the residents and hoped the brand-new clothing will be able to assist them so they can get back onto their feet.

“When I heard the news over the weekend, my heart just went out to all residents, staff and their families as it’s a terrifying situation to be involved in,” Ms Littmann-Kelly said.

“We are so pleased to hear that all residents made it out safely.

The Thread Together van attended the drop-off location at 2 MacDonald Street, Lota, on Monday 11 July to provide brand-new clothes to those who lost their possessions.

“Thread Together, Anglicare Southern Queensland and the Anglican Parish at Indooroopilly are working together to assist all residents who have lost their possessions and we will be providing brand-new clothes to help get them back onto their feet.”

Bayside Lodge Proprietor Joanne Tomada said all residents are still shocked and are trying to come to terms with the news, but were really appreciative of the new clothes being provided to them.

“All residents are safe and have been accommodated,” Mrs Tomada said.

“It’s just been horrific for everybody. The staff did a wonderful job getting everyone out in the dark.

“Thank you to Thread Together for coming here and donating clothing, it’s just amazing and it will go to good use.

“It will just make their day and will put a smile on their face and it will bring them joy during a difficult time.”

The community have really come together to support both residents and staff at The Bayside Lodge, with some buying goods and delivering it to them on Monday 11 July.

“The community have been great and they’ve donated a lot of stuff which is really appreciated,” Dependable Care Senior Support Coordinator Jodie Simpson said.

“At the moment we’d benefit from basic food items such as pastas, rices, tin foods, some kitchen items, crockery, plates, cups, coffee cups, arts and craft activities and any board games would be greatly appreciated.”

Thread Together is an Australian first, dedicated to taking excess new clothing from manufacturers and designers and redistributing it to vulnerable people within the community at no cost to the recipient.

Since last year’s launch in Brisbane on 23 February, the van has visited over 100 sites assisting over 3500 people in Brisbane.

“We visit a range of different government, community and church services including women’s homelessness services, refugee support organisations, services that support young people in the justice system or at risk of homelessness — really, any service supporting people who are doing it a bit tough,” Ms Littmann-Kelly said.

“We also assist in emergency situations where someone might have lost their clothing in a fire, flood or other disaster.”

Recently Thread Together assisted thousands of people affected by the floods in Queensland and in New South Wales and also provided emergency relief to many Ukrainian people who have escaped the war in their home country.

“The demand just keeps growing – with the pandemic, with people unemployed and the housing crisis and the Queensland floods it’s so important that we can take at least one pressure off people and keep them warm and comfortable,” she said.

The Thread Together van is sponsored by Bendon Lingerie and is supported and run by Anglicare Southern Queensland and St Andrew’s Anglican Parish, Indooroopilly.