Clothed in Love - Christchurch

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Clothed in Love - Christchurch

A Canterbury clothing charity where you can donate children's clothing. CLOTHED IN LOVE PACKS
- These can be requested through our page.

Clothed in Love helps Christchurch (and some Selwyn and North Canterbury) families in need by blessing them with free good quality preloved or new clothing for their tamariki. DONATIONS
- We accept donations of practical children's clothes to fit sizes Prem to Size 16. These include Jackets, Sweatshirts, Tops, Pants, Shorts, Thermals, Singlets, Underwear, Socks, PJs, Swimwear, Sleepsacks, Robes et

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- We have Drop Off points all over Christchurch in Avonhead, Bishopdale, Bryndwr, Burwood, Casebrook, Darfield, Fendalton, Halswell, Heathcote, Hei Hei, Hoon Hay, Huntsbury, Kaiapoi, Kirwee, Lincoln, Linwood, Mt Pleasant, New Brighton, Oxford, Papanui, Parklands, Pegasus, Prebbleton, Prestons, Rangiora, Rolleston (East), Rolleston (West), Shirley, Sockburn, Somerfield, St Albans, Strowan, West Melton, Wigram, Woodend, Yaldhurst

VOLUNTEERS
- We have Volunteer Teams dedicated to Sorting & Packing, Washing, Delivering, Fundraising and Admin.
- For more information on these, please check out our website page (https://www.clothedinlove.org.nz/volunteer) for more information. We will simply ask that you fill in a form on behalf of your own family. If you work for an organisation then you are welcome to fill in the form on behalf of another family. It is easy and gives us enough information to make sure the pack best meets your needs.
- Packs can be requested for a family once every 6 months (2 packs a year) to allow for change in season and growth. This means we can support as many people as possible.
- Our Courier team do their best to deliver packs to families as part of our service. This is within Christchurch, parts of Selwyn and North Canterbury. Families outside our delivery area are still eligible to apply for a pack however alternative arrangements may need to be made which our team can discuss.

20/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Our Community

Today is the final day of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer / Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. For this one we want to honour and acknowledge our entire Clothed in Love community who are part of our volunteer team in other ways. We have those who are officially on our volunteer team and many others who volunteer their time and skills to benefit others with no expectation of thanks.

For 5 1/2 years our community has grown and thanks to the increasing awareness of who we are, we have been able to achieve so much and bless thousands of children with packs. To achieve this is something significant and so incredible as it shows the power of what can happen when many come together, do their part and offer what they have to help others. Over this week we have honoured our specific teams and today we want to honour and thank you, our community.

Community volunteers come together in different ways sometimes as one off events or in other ways. We have those who spend time in their homes, creative groups or retirement communities to knit, crochet, sew and quilt for us. Creating items that are beautiful and handmade with love, being able to add these to our packs is something very special. We love how those doing this are volunteering talents for the benefit of others and in doing so putting smiles on so many faces.

We have those who are part of our fundraising initiatives such as the clothing sale, sausage sizzles or recent movie night. These do not run without commitment to ensuring all parts of the process are planned and executed with efficiency and professionalism. Volunteers who organise these do so with such precision and a clear outworking of our Clothed in Love vision. Their generosity has enabled many more in our community to benefit, funds to be raised and a wider reach for both those needing packs and those who wish to donate.

Schools, preschools and workplaces have also volunteered with us by running clothing or book drives. Often initiated or supported by our younger generation, there is enthusiasm, heart and compassion that goes alongside the wonderful organisation of these events. Due to this commitment to running a successful drive, their communities have given in abundance and over our time, Clothed in Love has been the recipient of boxes, bags, car and trailer fulls of donations.

There are also those who volunteer as a one off or short time with us. Corporates or businesses who see the importance of paying their staff a day or time to give back, has meant we have had those come on site to sort and pack thanks to this. Students who have volunteer hours to do through their school’s community initiatives such as the William Pike Challenge or Duke of Edinburgh, have meant our youth are looking for ways to positively impact their community and Clothed in Love has often been lucky enough to host them.

These are just some of the stories of our extra volunteers who make up our volunteering community at Clothed in Love. We are a charity who champions and loves our volunteers as we know we can only do what we do because of every one of them. While this week has been the chance to reflect and specifically honour our volunteers, our gratitude for every one is every day. We appreciate every hour, every kilometre, every smile and every person who brings what they have and gives what they can to ensure no child misses out and every child is clothed in love. It is a privilege to do this alongside you. Arohanui. 💜

19/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Clothed in Love Board

Day 6 of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer / Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. Today we acknowledge the incredible mahi of those governing Clothed in Love - our Board. Kim and Louisa began this adventure 5 1/2 years ago, this idea grew to where to continue a journey of excellence, sustainability and care, we needed to bring on those who were keen to outwork the vision with us.

Now in 2026 we are in our fifth iteration of our Board and every person who has been a part of it has played a significant and vital role in the story of Clothed in Love. Where we are today is testament to the expertise and generosity of each person who is on our Board. They give of their time amidst busy schedules and many commitments, coming together to run meetings, offer ideas, plan with clear purpose and outwork all of this for the benefit of our community.

On our current Board we have 8 dedicated team members who bring knowledge and experience in areas of governance, finance and funding, marketing and communications, strategic planning, connections and so much more. What we also get is laughter, support, understanding, compassion, heart and generosity. When eight people with such values come together we realise much is possible and the future is looking bright for Clothed in Love and every tamariki we want to clothe.

In addition to our Board, we also are grateful to those who have joined the Board members on our subcommittees. These are individuals who have served on our volunteer teams and those who have been connected in due to their fantastic expert skills linked to specific areas such as marketing, operations and funding. Knowing the importance of ensuring that a charity does not rely on just one or two to function, we are ensuring we can continue due to spreading the mahi and drawing on those who know what we need and how to implement it.

Change is continual, growth happening and our systems, processes and organisation is being refined for the betterment of all our have come to be a part of our Clothed in Love community. To know that those receiving our packs continue to get high quality clothing, that we are able to bless more because we have what we need in place to meet need and to also be honouring people in every part of what we do is simply phenomenal. This is due, in no small part, to those who govern, lead and support every person in our charity. Thank you to you all for what you do and who you are. We are so grateful.

18/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Admin Team

Day 4 of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer / Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. Today we honour those who have the gift of communicating that they share with Clothed in Love. Our amazing admin team - those who work behind the scenes to ensure those who receive packs, donate, volunteer and work alongside us have all the information they need.

These are not the volunteers you will see in person yet you will know their names and their friendly tone from the messages they send. Generously, each team member is prepared to check in with those contacting us in a timely way even though they are volunteers. Their knowledge, organisational skills and personable tone is evident in every message. They outwork our vision of positivity and make every person who contacts us feel heard and valued.

We are so grateful for every one of our admin team working across all our platforms - email, website, Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn and more - who understand their role is vital to Clothed in Love. This team ensures our process for receiving donations is easy and clearly communicate with our drop off points to make sure they are supported. Those asking about packs are met with warmth and kindness as our admin superstars encourage them to apply so we can bless. Our community are quick to learn of ways they can help, resources to support clothing drives or ease of ways to financially help. Organisations and community support workers know getting in touch with us will be met with professionalism, fast response times and clear communication.

Our admin volunteers are a streamlined team whose hearts to help and fast fingers on keyboards combine to make a tangible impact on Clothed in Love and all those we help. We could not do what we do without them and we appreciate everything they do to make Clothed in Love run smoothly. Thank you so much!

17/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Courier Team

Day 5 of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer / Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. Today is all about our community connectors, perhaps who we would call the ‘face’ of Clothed in Love. Our courier team are those who deliver our prepared packs to the families or organisations we support. Volunteering their time (and petrol), they ensure no child goes without.

Calculating what our couriers have brought to our volunteers teams would be hard to do. Thousands of kilometres have been travelled by this team over 5 1/2 years to as far as Darfield, Lyttelton or Sumner and north to Pegasus. Distance does not factor into their giving - they simply want to get the packs to the children who need them and make sure the wait isn’t too long.

Our couriers arrive on site after volunteering for an area, pack their cars or vans til they are full and head off in all directions. They communicate to the recipients when they will be there and arrive with a smile and arms full of clothing for the children and families who are in need of a little support in this season.

It is their beautiful and kind natures that make our families feel at ease and complete the full service that is Clothed in Love. With no judgement, only compassion, they respectfully read the need providing a non contact or quick drop off, a chat or a hug if needed. Every whānau is as unique as the packs delivered and our couriers make sure that every one feels special and that their packs are a gift and not a hand out.

Our courier volunteers since Clothed in Love began and on our current team are as diverse as the families we support. We have husband and wife teams who go on delivery missions together, students alongside their parent delivering, individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We have had mums taking their children with them to be part of the joy that is volunteering. What connects them all is the huge heart for helping and the love they pour into their part of Clothed in Love.

�We are so grateful for every courier who enables us to offer Clothed in Love as a full service charity. One where no child misses out as the packs are delivered to their door - there is no barrier for anyone receiving help. Our courier team are flexible, kind and so generous in what they give. We appreciate you all and thank you for being such an important part of our volunteer team!

Volunteering New Zealand

16/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Washing Team

Day 3 of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer / Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. Today we are highlighting our volunteers who we would perhaps consider our invisible threads woven into our packs. Those are our amazing group of volunteers who make up our washing team. These volunteers are those rarely on site for more than a few minutes at a time, yet their volunteering enables every other team to outwork their part of the process with ease and the knowledge that what we are gifting continues to be of high quality.

Our washing team are vital to our volunteers teams as they enable us to extend the life of even more donations through their dedication and flair with even stubborn stains. Their patience and organisational skills are top notch as they breathe new life into items that need it. While most of the donations we receive are already washed and beautifully gifted, there are mixed in the odd donation that needs a little tlc before we add them to packs. Armed with stain remover, soaking buckets, washing machines, lines or dryers, these amazing volunteers pour their volunteering passion in with the washing powder.

The Clothed in Love washing volunteers show just how clear it is that volunteering can be for everyone. This team are able to volunteer from the comfort of their own home and do so in their own time. They use what they have in their hands to be a very important part of our process to ensure no child goes without clothing. Their generosity may be unseen but not unnoticed as every Sorting and Packing team member knows, acknowledges and is so grateful for our washing team members.

Volunteer stories all weave in together and our washing team does just that - weaves in their expertise to leave a mark of love (rather than the mark they start with) on the clothing they touch. To every washing team member - we thank you, we see you and we appreciate you. Thank you for being such a vital and special part of our Clothed in Love volunteering community - you are amazing!

Volunteering New Zealand

15/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Sorting/Packing Teams

Day 2 of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) with the theme of Your Year to Volunteer - Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. Today we are honouring the amazing on site teams who together sort and pack an assortment of donations to create the perfect gift for every child. It is here that kindness, knowledge, initiative and love weave themselves together to ensure that every child isn’t just a number but a unique and valued individual who receives something just for them.

To spend a week on site with our Sorting and Packing teams is to meet a wide array of people who come from a range of backgrounds, cultures and age groups. They represent the very community we are supporting with many of them parents, grandparents, aunties, loved ones of children representing all the ages we clothe. Our teams all have different stories as to why they are there, why they choose to give and how long they have been with us. Yet every one shares a heart that wants to help and a spirit of generosity.

Spending hours in our ‘glamorous’ shipping containers, they carefully check every piece of clothing ensuring they all are the quality we have become known for. They acknowledge that family circumstances are such that items with ‘Mum’, ‘Dad’, or ‘Grandma’ are not for our Clothed in Love recipients and pass on to other charities we partner with. Aware of cultural needs, realising that some children will only have what we give as clothing and always putting the tamariki first, these teams pour their care into the simplest of tasks - checking and folding clothing.

Then armed with the knowledge provided from the request, they go ‘shopping’ picking out items that fit the needs of the family. Adhering to likes or dislikes, allergies or cultural needs and providing a range to hopefully give joy to the child who opens the pack. Finally, adding in a book to spark imagination and a love of reading, these paper bags are no longer just a pile of clothes but a gift that carries every decision and so much kindness one every one.

Weaving together this knowledge, care and thoughtfulness shows just how special every one of our Sorting and Packing volunteers are. Whether in their week the teams pack for 20 children or 220, every single one is acknowledged and loved by those preparing their gift. Our volunteers do not know their names and often not their stories yet for those moments, these children become part of our Clothed in Love family and our volunteers honour them.

If we were to lay out every pack gifted (over 19,000 of them) and look at them from above, this tapestry of colour and care would create a blanket that would stretch for what would seem forever. And woven into every one is the love given through the hands of our sorting and packing volunteers. We are so grateful for every single team member, for every team leader, those who show up first thing on a frosty winter morning or who are there last thing at night leaving under the night sky. Thank you so much for seeing the importance of these packs and for outworking our vision on a daily basis. We appreciate you.

Volunteering New Zealand

14/06/2026

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK Drop Off Points

Today marks the first day of National Volunteer Week (Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu) and this year’s theme is Your Year to Volunteer - Tōu Tau ki te Tūao. If we were to pick a perfect theme, it would be this. Volunteering in any form is one where many come together to achieve something of practical worth and beauty.

Clothed in Love is an organisation that could not and would not exist without one thing - our volunteers. With only two ‘staff’ currently paid 10 hours a week until July, every single other person within our Clothed in Love organisation and our wider community who support, are volunteers. Over 150 volunteers are actively involved and every single one is valued and brings skills, heart and generosity to what they do.

This week we will be honouring those who weave their magic into every step of our process to ensure no child goes without clothing to keep them warm, give them confidence and remind them they are clothed in love. What is extra special is on researching weaving, there are many techniques - all that use specific materials and way of preparation. Some are for practical purposes, others more decorative and each utilising different disciplines and skills.

Clothed in Love reflects just that with all those woven into our story. Elements of the practical, the decorative, the honouring of history all coming together to create packs that are value, care and love in a gift. It is perhaps the beginning of our process which best represents how many different items, people and communities weave together to bless the tamariki we help. The donations that come in to our drop off points are as diverse as those who give, each with a background, story and reason to be giving.

Families whose children have grown out of items that have plenty of life still to give. Firm favourites that a child wants to give so another child can find enjoyment in wearing it. Brand new items bought by a family in honour of a loved one. Op shoppers who love to find a bargain and a way to bless others. Crafters using their amazing skills and time to create individualised items to donate. Workplaces who come together to gather and give. Schools and preschools running drives for books or clothing. A large, intricate, beautiful array of donations coming from so many that together enable high quality packs to be made.

And the reason this can happen is due to our volunteer team of drop off points. Families (and a group) who live all over our city and beyond who open their doorsteps to others for ease of donating. Each drop off point is as unique as the donations that come in, each with a reason they want to give and each a part of our Clothed in Love story. There are those who have been a drop off point from the very beginning whose children have grown up with bags and boxes of clothing arriving on their doorstep. Couples who work full time yet want to give back to the community and can do so in this way, excited to find a way to outwork their own form of generosity. Those who are retired who find community in being a part of a space like Clothed in Love. Two ‘businesses’ - a family business and a community space - who gather people and donations.

We could not begin to do what we do without every single drop off point volunteer. We are so grateful for your compassion and generosity and for being an integral part of Clothed in Love. Your ability to offer a close drop off point to all those who donate means more in our community can give and more children can be blessed. Thank you for weaving your kindness into every pack and into every home we support.

11/06/2026

INFO POST Charity Leaders Hui

Since Clothed in Love began Kim and Louisa have learnt so much within the charity sector, met so many wonderful people who donate and volunteer, as well as made a large range of connections which have meant we have been able to bless thousands of children thanks to this incredible community that has been built.

Through this journey, we have also been introduced to so many wonderful people and organisations whose mahi and support of individuals, families and children around Ōtautahi is inspiring. At Clothed in Love, we have had the privilege of working alongside well over 35 social agencies and a large number of schools and preschools. Within this context, Louisa had a vision to do more and made a plan. In her own words…

“A couple of years into Clothed in Love, and through the experience of meeting so many people, my thoughts turned to how those in the charity sector were working together and could we do even more? We were all busy, all giving the best we could and all had expertise and needs.

Chatting to friends who also founded charities - Joy Reid of From One Mother To Another, Ged Robinson of BetterMan - we discussed what it would be like to get these people in a room and what could come of it. Another catch up with a friend - Jessica Cooper of Home Foundation - sparked a shared heart for connection and Jess keen to use the space at Home Foundation for more than their day to day operations. The plan was formed.

Last Thursday night was the culmination of weeks of thought, preparation and vision to host the inaugural Charity Leaders Hui at Home. Although we knew the potential invite list could number hundreds, we began with those connections in our own worlds and invited charity leads from a number of large and small organisations in Christchurch. From a one person charity through to those heading the Canterbury component of a national body, the idea was to gather people together in a real and honest way.

It was absolutely amazing to be in the room with such generous, compassionate and wise individuals. Those with a wealth of experience, knowledge and hearts to help others. Though our charities were each different, we found many connections and the conversations never stopped. There were those who identified quickly how they might work together, discussions around how we might support each other with resources or ideas and a reminder that we are not alone in this space.

Special thanks to Angela Jones of Angela Jones - Portraits for the beautiful photography and to Jessica and Israel Cooper of Home Foundation for hosting and sponsoring this event. Also thanks to Michelle for discussion leading alongside Joy, Ged and Louisa as well as all the guests who shared with such honesty, knowledge and passion.

Ideas are already flowing for what could be next, others have been in touch about wanting to be involved in future and there is an enthusiasm for seeing how we, as charity leads, could work together to benefit each other and every person and group we in turn support. To see a vision such as this come together in such a positive way was a joy and I am so thankful for everyone who came and for the incredible team of Joy, Ged and Jess who made this possible.

Clothed in Love is all about building a community and in life we know that bringing people together with a shared vision is something truly special. To know that Clothed in Love is working alongside such phenomenal charities and organisations there to help others in our city (and beyond) is such an honour. We look forward to seeing what we can continue to achieve - together.”

[If you are interested in finding out more about possible future events or getting involved - please email Louisa and the team at [email protected]]

10/06/2026

HONOUR POST The Dove Bookshop - Bishopdale Mall

From one year in to Clothed in Love, we have chosen to add in a book to each of the packs we send out. Louisa and Kim both have experience in teaching and know the importance of developing a love of reading and the way that reading can open a up a world of possibilities. For some, owning a book may be a luxury so this gift is one that is very special both to us who give and those who receive.

Recently, we have reconnected with the fabulous Angela and Dove Bookshop. Dove Bookshop is well known in the community for not only stocking incredible books to purchase at a great price, they also exist to support church and community programmes through the St Christopher’s Community Trust.

“The Dove Bookshop is run by St. Christophers Community Trust, a registered charitable trust, which begun selling recycled books 20 years ago as a fundraiser to assist the community outreach programmes of St. Christophers Anglican Church in Avonhead, Christchurch. “

All the stock is donated by the Christchurch community and the quality of books is incredible. Sales from these have enabled programmes to run, funded through this initiative. As well we this books are often passed on to other projects and Clothed in Love is one of these very blessed recipients.

Louisa popped in recently to catch up with Angela and pick up bags of picture and board books which we have been extremely low in lately. Last month with 860 packs heading out, so did 860 books meaning stock of books is lower than we like on site. We are so grateful for Dove (along with other supporters in the community) who have donated to restock our shelves. Also to a friend of Angela’s who dropped in a bag of books to pass on to us as well - thank you!

Thanks to Angela, Dove Bookshop and all those who give to them as well, the tamariki we support with packs are also being encouraged to read and delve into a world of delight that comes from a book. How very special - thank you everyone! 💜

09/06/2026

OUR WHY Quality and Abundance

Our packs are always a gift and never a hand out. We always want to ensure, no matter how many packs head out, that every single one has the special Clothed in Love touch. Packs that are individualised to every child, every piece checked more than once and packed with care and love.

The reason is this…every single pack is for a different child, one who may be in a situation where life is tough for them and their family. Or where their whānau is doing their best to provide everything they can so that no child feels worried or concerned. Where every child can be a part of things such as swimming, camps or casual clothes day with everything they need. Our vision is that every child can be clothed in love.

To be able to take pressure off a family by clothing their children is such a privilege. To do this with such high quality clothing is simply incredible. This is only doable thanks to our generous and kind community who trust us with their donations, knowing they will go out to those who need it. Repurposing clothing in this way makes a huge impact on tamariki, whānau and the environment.

And as need grows, so has our community giving. Every child is still knowing this abundance mentioned in the quote from one our social services. Opening packs that are filled with warm, high quality clothing that is just for them. Feeling valued because the clothing is varied and warm, exactly what is needed at this time of year when winter is upon us.

So on behalf of every social service who uses us and every family that applies, we say an enormous and heartfelt thank you. Thank you for being the difference in these children’s lives, in blessing them and their families just because of your beautiful hearts to help. Thank you, thank you, thank you. 💜

Address

Yaldhurst
Christchurch
7676

Website

https://www.clothedinlove.org.nz/, https://www.instagram.com/clothedinlovechch/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/clothe

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