OLDS — A recent rash of thefts at the Community Lending Shelf (CLS) was disappointing and frustrating for director Lucinda Watkins and her fellow CLS officials because although it may seem to just be used clothing, those donations are extremely important to those who receive them.
The CLS takes donations of gently used clothing in a bin at the Olds United Church.
In February/March, someone was stealing those donations virtually every day – sometimes more than once a day. It got so bad that CLS officials had to temporarily lock that bin. But a new, more theft-proof bin was installed March 27 and since then, the thefts seem to have stopped.
Watkins says when she talked to an RCMP officer about it, she was told the CLS complaint was a lower priority compared to other complaints.
During an interview with the Albertan, Staff Sgt. Warren Wright, the commanding officer of Olds RCMP said while other crimes may get more immediate attention, complaints like those provided by the CLS are investigated, but the matter may take a couple of weeks to solve.
Watkins founded OLS back in 2008. For years, she operated it out of her garage and shed. Finally in 2017 the operation was moved to a location at the Olds United Church.
In a letter to the Albertan, Watkins said CLS is more than just a drop-off system for used clothing. It changes the lives of recipients.
“I’ve been the director of the community lending shelf for almost 15 years now. It used to be run out of my house and I had the pleasure of meeting people face-to-face," she wrote.
“I sometimes got to see the look on the face of these moms as they picked up the heavy boxes. The weight of the clothing box seems to lift a huge weight off their shoulders. It freed up space to worry about things like groceries and rent. It felt like some relief.
“I had a single mom reach out a few years ago whose low-income housing apartment had been flooded.
“They literally had nothing except for the clothing on their backs. This was the end of August/early September, two days before school started and her little guy was starting Grade 6.
“When they came to pick up the box, he was in his pajama pants and flip-flops, the only clothing he owned.
“I packed that box. There were new jeans, some nice shirts, socks, underwear and a full wardrobe. Mom never asked, but I put some clothing in for her too. When they came to pick (that) up she wanted to meet me.
“I watched that little boy dance around and hoot and holler over some new clothes. He wanted to hold each piece of clothing. His joy was contagious. He didn’t have to start Grade 6 in his pajama pants. Mom was crying, but in that way that moms do, so your child won’t notice.
“That certainly didn’t feel like a low priority to me.
“I have taken coats to various schools for kids that had none. In the winter -- in Alberta.
“A few years ago, I had a nurse call me up. There was a baby in the hospital with nothing. Not a blanket, no diapers, not a onesie, not an outfit -- not one. I managed to find those things at the Lending Shelf and take them up to that nurse to give to that mom and baby.
“That didn’t feel like a low priority to me.
“I’ve met people that had floods, fires, abuse and simply fallen through the cracks of the system. We help them with no questions asked.
“Every single person is a high priority to me. Every single box of clothing is a high priority to me. Upwards of 400 boxes a year make it to those that need it and those that recycle. “Every single donation of clothing is valuable to someone. I don’t get to meet many people who use this service anymore but I’m aware of the impact. It is a high priority.
“I take this personally. This is a crime against people,” she added.
