00:00It all started with a single rack of clothing in Hearn Bay, and now free shops are beginning
00:05to expand across the rest of the county, with Ashford looking to be the next to offer clothing,
00:09food and toiletries to the public without a price tag.
00:13The charity are hoping to properly open their own shop in May, so for Earth Day they're
00:18raising money while trialling the free shop in a cafe on the high street.
00:22Today's Earth Day, do something, something environmentally friendly, even if it's a little
00:26tiny thing. Everything makes a difference. No one is going to come and save the planet.
00:31We all have to chip in and reuse, upcycle, repurpose, rethink. It's all about our planet.
00:40And on the other side, just think about how many people in need are struggling at the moment.
00:43So if we build more bridges, more free shops which connect that people in need,
00:47and all waste we have, it's a win-win.
00:51But the idea is that Ashford will have its own free shop. Currently they've got the
00:55volunteers willing to do the work, they've even got a location. But today is all about
00:58making sure they can get enough donations to get their free shop off the ground.
01:02Once they reach that £5,000 goal, they'll start supplying free food, clothing and other items
01:07to the people of Ashford. This is something that, you know, Ashford needs. And after living in Ashford
01:13and being all by myself with no family, all the lovely charities around Ashford and the churches were
01:20helping me through all the struggles I've been through. So I thought, you know what,
01:24I want to say thank you to Ashford. And I remember when Maya posted online,
01:29if you want to open a free shop and, you know, just sign up. And I was like,
01:34I want to open a free shop in Ashford.
01:36The free shop is planned to be based near the train station so it doesn't affect the
01:39high street economy and local businesses.
01:41I feel like it's exactly what Ashford needs, as obviously we are in struggling times.
01:45And I do think that this would help some people out, you know, with the clothes,
01:50some food and just to support the community.
01:53Unfortunately, we have seen a decrease in some customers, but obviously we want to help wherever
01:57we can. So I just think the free shop would be an amazing idea. This is why we decided to
02:03collaborate with them. And we are always open for things like that, just to help the community.
02:09Currently, the shop needs to raise £5,000 before they can open their own venue.
02:13But today, they are already aiming to reduce the cost on essential items,
02:16as well as the cost on the environment.
02:18Finn McDermid for KMTV in Ashford.
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