Westville woman launches swop shop initiative
The acting principal for Westville Junior Primary School created the highly supported swop shop in Westville.
A DRIVE to support the neighbourhood watch patrollers and first responders quickly transformed into a Dawncliffe Square Community Initiative swop shop.
Sharon Jenkins, a Westville resident and the acting principal at Westville Junior Primary School, said, “I was frustrated that I wasn’t able to control what was going on around me and thought about ways in which I could help and benefit the community.”
Jenkins put out a call for donations of food so she could prepare hot meals for the men and women on the frontlines, some of whom braved the cold for hours on end. There was an excess supply as she was inundated with support and the idea for the swop shop bloomed.
“There were people in need of specific goods and the shops weren’t open. Residents were a bit apprehensive at first but they soon realised it was a community project to support each other. We now have residents on WhatsApp groups who ask for something, such as nappies, and it is then dropped off here. As soon as the goods arrive, it is cleared from the table,” she said.
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Visitors to the shop are encouraged to take an item and replace it with something else from their cupboards. If they are unable to trade an item, they can make a donation for the item’s worth. All of the money raised this way is then used to purchase food to cook meals for the volunteers and neighbourhood watch members. Those who are unable to afford a donation are given the goods instead. Onions and potatoes were the most sought after food items and up to 100 people visit the shop each day.
It is manned solely by volunteers, including children who want to play their part to help the community.
“It has also given people a place to get out of their homes and see a bit of normal life going on and have a face-to-face conversation. People are so generous as some have dropped off goods without taking anything and, now that a few shops have opened up, residents are buying extras and donating them to the table,” smiled Jenkins. “The community spirit has been awesome!”
The swop shop is open from 11:00 to 15:00 and is located opposite the Salamanca Centre in Hillcrest.
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