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Pop-up clothing giveaway in Maple Ridge

Event happening May 18 at Golden Ears United Church
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Jesse Sokol, peer coordinator at the Maple Ridge Community Action Table with STORM, hands out meal bags to give out to those in need at a previous Black Balloon Day event to remember those who died from illicit drugs in the community. (Colleen Flanagan/The News)

One of the biggest clothing giveaways in the community will be taking place in Maple Ridge.

The Non-Judgemental Recovery Society will be holding the event not only for the homeless in the community, but for those who are struggling or having a hard time making ends meet.

“Everything that we have has been donated from this community for this community – and it’s for everybody,” said Jesse Sokol, who started the society with Dena Jones in 2019.

And, he noted there will be food there as well from the Friends In Need Food Bank Food Recovery Program.

“The need we are seeing is a lot more than just clothing, it’s for food – food security, food security is the biggest piece that I am seeing in the community right now,” he said.

The Non-Judgemental Recovery Society has been doing outreach to help feed people living on the streets of Maple Ridge every second Sunday. Now they have started going out every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday – in partnership with Stop Overdose Ridge Meadows, or STORM.

The Kiwanis Club of Golden Ears has donated $1,500 for lunches for the Wednesday and Thursday outreach, but Sokol said, they are always looking for more.

READ MORE: Black balloon walk to mourn deaths from opioid crisis in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows

They have also been getting help from the St. Vincent de Paul Society as well.

The clothing pop-up giveaway will be taking place from 2-5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Golden Ears United Church, at 22165 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge, and will end just before the church’s free weekly Saturday evening dinner, which everyone is invited stay for.

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Sokol is encouraging those who attend to fill up and claims there is nothing like their event in the community.

People can either bring their own bags or use a garbage bag that the society can provide.

“For someone to be able to come in and pick whatever they want, there’s nothing like that,” said Sokol.

“Ours is a free-for-all,” he said.

To donate to the society go to: facebook.com/NONJUDGMENTALRECOVERY or call: 236-838-6562.



Colleen Flanagan

About the Author: Colleen Flanagan

I got my start with Black Press Media in 2003 as a photojournalist.
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