KUCHING, May 4: Hope Place has opened its second Kedai Bajet, a thrift store selling a wide range of necessities from clothing, homeware to beddings at Eden Centre, 12th Mile here.
The new Kedai Bajet is set up over two shoplots at the Hock Seng Lee (HSL) sponsored premises opposite the Road Transport Department (JPJ)’s headquarters along the Pan Borneo Highway.
The thrift store, which opens from 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday offers a selection of affordable items with the majority priced between RM2 to RM10.
Hope Place founder Kelvin Wan described the Kedai Bajet as a three-pronged approach to aid the communities in need.
“First, we are creating employment by hiring staff. Second, the community nearby gets to buy cheap necessities. Third, additional funds collected will go into our emergency fund, mainly for fire and flood victims. Also, those who come with police reports proving that they are victims of fires or floods will get to pick items for free,” he said in a media release today.
With a long-standing relationship with Hope Place, HSL has contributed to housing rebuilding projects, given to Hope Place’s food aid programme, and last year, sponsored an animated fund-raising video, which has secured over RM50,000 to date.
HSL is also providing Hope Place a space at the new La Promenade Mall to set up a Human Resource and Leadership Centre.
Wan pointed out that the new Kedai Bajet accepts all kinds of donations as people are encouraged to donate items from fashion and apparel to households.
“Just don’t donate broken things, or those that are dirty or unusable. We are not a recycling centre. Our volunteers have to sort through all donations. We only sell things that others can use.
“The B40 (lower income group) will be the main shoppers here. We want to help them to be able to afford the necessities like kitchen utensils at affordable prices. For them, home appliances and small kitchen items are especially hard to come by cheaply.
“Popular items include bed frames, cupboards and wardrobes. Whenever we have baby strollers to sell, those are sold out quickly,” he said, adding that the Kedai Bajet received the most customers prior to festive seasons.
The Eden Centre along the Pan Borneo Highway comprises 30 three-storey office and commercial units. The development includes ample parking spaces and is near Kota Padawan, which has a steadily growing population.
La Promenade Mall is the commercial focus of HSL’s flagship 200-acre mixed development. Its headquarters, the 10-storey Green Building Index certified HSL Tower, adjoins the mall.
For more info, visit hsl.com.my, hopeplace.org.my or search @hslcn and @hopeplacekedaibajet on social media. — DayakDaily
