Helping Hand: HCS Picks Up Donations

Spring is the season most associated with new-beginnings, fresh starts and more importantly... cleaning, Spring cleaning to be exact. Every household goes through it, sifting through your belongings that have made their way into your life over the cold, winter months that you no longer have use for anymore.

It's satisfying when it's over but dreaded before it even begins. We get you, and understand the task at hand. HCS is here to make your life a bit easier. We offer a pick up service for your gently used accessories & garments. Out of sight, out of mind! We're here to help you and here to help our communities flourish. The two come hand in hand.

So, please keep us in mind when your sorting through your closets, basements and attics. Remember that blouse you wore when you landed your dream job? Pay it forward and let it be someone elses new beginning too.

Contact us at hamiltonclothingswap@gmail.com to arrange a pick up. It's never too early to donate!

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!



HCS xx

Labour of Love

We're at it again at HCS!

Our fourth annual clothing swap is in the works for Saturday June 18th 2016 at Theatre Aquarius.
For most of you seasoned swappers, you know the drill. For those of you who are just getting know us and what we do, you're in for a treat!

Each year we collect and curate gently used clothing for the swap. We start this whole process in January (believe it or not!) so we have a wide section of styles and sizes available in June for the event. It's a labour of love sifting through hundreds of donations to accommodate not only our swappers but our specially curated donation to Living Rock for their at-risk youth population.

 

It brings us complete joy to host the Hamilton Clothing Swap (HCS), not only for the shear fact that we are being consciously sustainable and giving new life to garments that may eventually find their way to a landfill. But more importantly, that we are providing an avenue for these gently used and new items to be accessible to individuals who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Let's face it, life gets expensive!
At HCS we sell our gently used clothing/items for $1 and new merchandise for $2. Last year we were inspired by 541 Barton's, Eatery & Exchange,  Button Bank and decided to infiltrate it in to our swap culture permantely. 
Not familiar with how this works? Each button is worth $1 and can be purchased by swappers when the cash out. The buttons go in to a jar and are used by others who can't afford to buy clothes.

 

 

We have a pay-it-forward attitude at HCS which means we are 100% not-for profit. ALL proceeds from the day go directly to the N2N Food Bank, which helps so many communities on the escarpment on a daily basis through a multitude of services.

If you would like to donate to this years swap, here is a checklist of items that we are looking for the Hamilton Clothing Swap this June:

1. Women, children and men's clothing.
2. All donations must be gently used.
3. Accessories: shoes, purses, scarfs, jewelry, hats etc.
4. All donations must be washed/clean.

We ask that your donations are contained in a garbage bag/box for easy pick up and transporting. We also ask that you label it with HCS so we know it's ours to pick up :)

We would like to extend a Thank You to those who have already donated for this year. We are really looking forward to our fourth annual swap. Stay tuned for more updates on the blog at through twitter @HamiltonSwap

HCS  xx

Until Next Year...

From the bottom of our hearts we would like to say a HUGE Thank You to everyone who made it out this past Saturday!

It was so nice to see familiar faces from the previous swaps as well as new ones! It was so wonderful to have been a part of Hamilton's first 100 in 1 Day event, from following tweets and seeing pictures it looked like it was such a successful a positive day in our dear city.

With this being our third year hosting The Hamilton Clothing Swap, it has been exciting to watch it grow year after year. The turn out on Saturday was absolutely phenomenal. From what I could see, in between stocking the racks, you all found some wonderful pieces to add to your wardrobe! 

With your support and kindness we far exceeded our donation to N2N from last year! We raised just over $1700 and over 250 lbs of food for the N2N Food Bank. In addition, Living Rock will be receiving a very large, curated donation from us to help their at-risk youth in downtown Hamilton.

We really hope you enjoyed yourself this year and look forward to preparing for our fourth swap next Spring!

Congratulations to Denise, Karen, Michela and Shannon! You were randomly drawn to win one of four $40 gift cards from The Other Bird Restaurants. If you haven't already emailed us your information, please do so :) so we can send it out in the post!

Again, Thank You to all of you swappers! Year after year you blow us away with your kindess and great style!

SWAP ON!

HCS xx

The Calm Before the Storm

Everything is set up & ready for you swappers to find your gently used treasures. We're so very excited to see everyone tomorrow. 

The support we receive each year continues to grow. We couldn't do it without amazing people like you and businesses who believe in us to help pay it forward to communities and individuals who need an extra helping hand.

A big Thank You to Meridian Credit Union for continuing to sponsor us, The Other Bird restaurants for donating gift cards & Starbucks coffee for their generous coffee contributions year after year.

Let's not forget the amazing General Manager, Lorna and Front Manager Clarissa at Theatre Aquarius for our venue and all their help along the way.

Doors will be open at 9:00am sharp. We promise you will not be disappointed. Remember to bring your 1 non-perishable item for admission and lots of change (or bills depending on your loot) for the 1$ & 2$(new clothes with tags) that will be awaiting you!

Complementary Starbucks coffee and treats will be there for you throughout the swap.

SO, SET YOU'RE ALARMS! We will see you eager swappers in the early morning!

HCS xx

Give A Dollar, Take A Button

Swappers! Can you believe it? We're less than 1 week away from our Third Annual Hamilton Clothing Swap. After months of sorting through clothes, the time has come for us to share our curated garments. We always aim to please and are pretty sure you will not be disappointed.

Be mindful that we only accept cash :) All clothes will be priced at $1 and new clothing with tags will be priced at $2. So, remember your coin purse or wallet depending on your loot and don't forget your 1 non-perishable food item for N2N as your admission.

We have mountains of clothes that we cannot wait to display for you. Remember to come early, bring bags (we will have some on site until supplies last) and get ready to shop!

For those early risers, Starbucks Ancaster has kindly donated coffee for our event! We will also have complementary treats for you throughout the swap to keep you going.

We are doing something a little different this year... we have been inspired by 541 Barton's, Eatery & Exchange, Button Bank and will be infiltrating it in to our swap culture this year. Not familiar with how this works? Each button is worth $1 and can be purchased by swappers when they cash out. The buttons go in to the jar and are used by others who can't afford to buy clothes.

Haven't been to 541 Barton yet? We HIGHLY suggest you go. 

So, will you help us spread the word? Helping those in need on the Hamilton Escarpment and Hamilton Downtown while updating your wardrobe on a shoe string budget - All wins!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday, don't forget to set your alarm clocks!

HCS xx

The Iconic Soup Can

From the very beginning our amazingly talented friend Sean Cartwright from HERATICS has been the creative force behind our eye catching posters that invade Hamilton each Spring. Once again he has lent us a helping hand in sprucing up our iconic soup can for HSC's third annual swap!

It's friends like Sean that help make this swap successful each year. His poster is now recognizable and sought after during the Spring months within Hamilton. It's become a signal to swappers to clean out their closets and a reminder that HCS is just around the corner.

Keep an eye out for them & mark the date in your calender!

We can barely contain our excitement for June 6th!

HCS xx

100 Acts of Kindness in 1 day

JUNE 6TH 2015

Is not only the date of the Hamilton Clothing Swap but will mark 100In1Day Hamilton's first year in our beautiful city! It's a global festival of civic engagement that takes place all over Hamilton on Saturday June 6th, 2015.

It encourages Hamiltonians to share their vision of our city through the creation of small community-based projects. It's the perfect opportunity for us to share our creative ideas to encourage change within Hamilton. No idea is too big or too small!

We attended a 100In1Day workshop last week and left feeling absolutely inspired and invigorated to support some simple and fun events within our city. Click on the link below to submit your idea and vision for Hamilton!

 

Hamilton Clothing Swap started as a small simple gathering amongst friends during our high school years and has now sparked in to a larger event supporting several communities and programs within Hamilton. All it takes is an idea, a passion for change and vision for a better city.

It's your turn to make your mark & make a change.

HCS xx