How one bag has made a huge impact!
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Earlier this year, we were contacted by A Good Thing: a charity that connects surplus items with people who need them. They had 700 sturdy Exodus holdalls looking for a new home and we were thrilled to take them in. Since then, these bags have made a significant difference for the people who use our storage service.
But How?
Reliability and Dignity: Many people experiencing homelessness are forced to keep their belongings in flimsy carrier bags or weak bin liners that easily rip, causing stress and embarrassment. These holdalls are a game-changer. They provide a safe, sturdy way for people to carry their personal items, removing the worry of a bag collapsing at an inconvenient moment. This reinforces the message we send out by having our storage unit in the first place: your belongings are meaningful and deserve a safe, secure place to be kept.
Comfort and Convenience: Large bags are often difficult to carry, but these are different. We've seen people pack the equivalent of a large suitcase into one of these holdalls and then easily carry it while cycling off to do their laundry. This single bag removes the physical strain of carrying multiple, poorly structured bags.
Reducing Judgment: It's common for people experiencing homelessness to face judgment for carrying multiple bags. Having one sturdy bag that blends in can reduce this experience, helping people feel less isolated and more secure. At a time when life can be overwhelming and uncertain, security is vitally important.
A Win for Street Storage
The bags have also been crucial for the running of Street Storage. Bin liners are not really suitable for our limited space: because of lack of shape they take up extra room. With these holdalls, we can condense what would be 10 bin liners into just four bags, which only take up a third of the shelf space. This allows us to be much more efficient with our storage, helping us help more people.
We've already given out 200 of these Exodus bags and the positive impact has been immense. We want to extend a huge thank you to A Good Thing and Exodus for this generous and incredibly useful donation.