Before going to a parents’ meeting last Sunday, Vu Thi Lan, 49, in Tan Binh district, stopped by the cultural house of Quarter 10 in Ward 15 in HCM City. She wanted to find some clothes for herself.

“I heard some days ago that there is a zero-dong clothing shop where people can go and pick up what they want, but I did not believe it. I only came here after many people confirmed that it exists. I could not imagine that there would be so many beautiful clothes here,” she said.

Do Thi Hoa, 69, a volunteer at the shop, led Lan to the booth where clothes for children were displayed. Lan wanted to find clothes for her two children to wear on Tet days.

Lan earns her living by collecting scrap. She has decided not to return to Phu Tho, her home village, this Tet, to cut down expenses. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, she has faced difficulties and has had to tighten her purse strings. Luckily, she won’t have to spend money on clothing because she found nice items for her children at the zero-dong shop.

The zero-dong shop has been open since August 2020. At first, only clothes were sold every Sunday morning. Later, milk, rice, footwear and schoolbags were also provided.

There are three booths for children, men and women’s clothes. Clothing is hung on the shelves as in other shops.

The shop was opened by local authorities. The clothes displayed are from the public, organizations, garment workshops, and donors. Hoa and other volunteers are in charge of arranging clothes, and classifying and hanging them to make them catch the eyes of visitors.

“Most of the clothes here are new and beautiful, not old, dirty and torn,” she said.

Hoa said by opening the zero-dong shop, local people wanted to spread ‘warmth’ and sympathy after the pandemic.

“Many needy people have come and taken clothes, with happiness,” she said.

Tran Minh Hieu, head of Quarter 10, said after the pandemic, the local authorities decided to set up the shop after realizing that many locals needed clothing.

Recognizing the humanity of the shop model, the Red Cross Association in Ward 15 has supported Quarter 10 in contacting donors.

“Everyone is welcome,” Hieu said. “Anyone who needs clothes can come here. All the products are sold at zero dong."

According to Hieu, well-off people also come to the shop. Most of them are owners of guesthouses who come to pick up clothes for their tenants who are in difficulties. 

Nguyen Son

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