Community group Hamara Footpath wants you to donate your unused, 'designer' clothes for their garage sale over the Independence Day weekend
Community group Hamara Footpath wants you to donate your unused, 'designer' clothes for their garage sale over the Independence Day weekend
Thrice a week at 7.30 pm, Shubhangi Swarup and a few of her friends meet on a footpath at Churchgate to teach street children a class on "life skills". 
They go by the name Hamara Footpath, which Shubhangi defines as "a community group, not an NGO".
"We spread newspapers to sit on and use donated solar lamps," says the 28 year-old journalist. But with the unrelenting rains, it has been difficult to meet over the past few weeks.
"We are desperately looking for a space," says Shubhangi, adding that despite that, there are definite advantages that come with teaching on a pavement.
"For one, kids can just drop in to attend the class, and for another, we get a lot of our volunteers that way," she elaborates.
This year, over the Independence Day weekend, Hamara Footpath plans to host a garage sale for a cause at crafts store Dhoop in Khar.
"We're looking for clothes that are just lying in people's cupboards that are expensive, but have probably never been worn.
Clothes that you can't throw away or donate to charity," says Shubhangi, citing a "sequined halter top" as an example.
The group has also approached designers, small boutiques and production houses for any surplus they might have.
Hamara Footpath has arranged pick-up points in Juhu, Bandra, Dadar, Marine Drive, Nariman Point and Colaba. "The last day for donating clothes is Tuesday (August 10)," says Shubhangi.
Once the clothes have been collected, they will be sorted, which involves washing, ironing and pricing the clothes.
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The primary reason for branding the sale an FS affair is that proceeds from the sale will go towards supporting the street children and their families who live on Fashion Street.
The group plans to use 100% of the proceeds from the sale for Hamara Footpath activities.
"My first association with the Hamara Footpath kids happened last year with a crafts workshop for them.
It was a success, with products made by the children selling within the first two hours of the exhibition," says Aradhana Nagpal, proprietor, Dhoop.
"Just as our parents want for us to be happy and fulfill our potential, even the parents of street children have dreams for them.
I hope to someday see these children move off the streets and lead responsible lives," concludes Shubhangi.
ON August 14 and 15
AT Dhoop, 101 Khar Sheetal Apartments, Union Park,
Khar (W). call 26498647
To volunteer, send an email to hamarafootpath@gmail.com
It's amazing how many people have come forward to help. people tell us that they don't know why they have certain clothes in their wardrobe, and we're like 'sure, send us your ugly clothes!'
Rhea Bhumgara, 26, core team member, Hamara Footpath
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