Big thanks for a big donation!

Big guys need big clothes!

Some of the Tu Ora Pathway works with fit that category and thanks to the generosity of a Christchurch retailer, they can now step back into the community in style.

Johnny Bigg at Dress-Smart in Hornby recently donated piles of clothes to Pathway, after Pathway Reintegration unit lead Silvan Danuser approached Johnny Bigg’s Madison James about a possible partnership.

Silvan says having a quality set of clothes available for prisoners on release is essential, but not possible at times, until now.

“For a lot of our guys, I was bringing them clothes into the prison because we are allowed to wear civvies in our unit. By the time the guys have been in 15-plus years, you can imagine their clothes don’t fit anymore and the prison diet isn’t too kind to the waistline.

“A lot of our guys are bigger dudes. You can get bits and pieces here and there and there’s Johnny Bigg who obviously caters to that crowd.”

A short conversation and a bit of time later, Madison got in touch with Silvan with an offer of some clothing items that were earmarked to be written-off.

It’s fair to say SIlvan was stunned when he went to pick them up.

‘’I’m expecting a couple of shirts, two or three pairs of pants . . . I turn up and it’s all up over 150 clothing items. There’s a lot of bits and pieces. They’re really appreciated.’’

From items sized extra large to 9XL - Silvan says the latter looked “like a bedsheet’’ - there’s something to fit everyone.

Madison says the company was willing to play a part in assisting those who needed support. 

“We were more than happy to help out - we can understand and sympathise regarding the struggles you may face when supporting the demographic you do. 

Everyone deserves a good second shot of opportunity and they need to look and feel respectable when doing so. I’m in hope everything donated will help assist many of achieving the above.

Pathway would like to extend a huge thank you to Johnny Bigg. You guys are wonderful!

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