Impact Stories
Curtain bank keeping our community warm
Key Impact
10+
tonnes of waste removed from waterways
10K+
tamariki attended hubs programmes at schools
670+
tonnes of kai
rescued
125K+
people received
rescued kai
We believe that this is what makes the Curtain Bank so special. We act as a link to create a circular support system. The Wellington community donates their curtains and our team of 25 volunteers and two staff sort and sew them so that they perfectly fit each window before we send them back out to the community. It’s quite common for our past recipients to help their friends and neighbours access our service, and sometimes they even end up coming in and volunteering with us.
Unfortunately, Grace’s story isn’t uncommon for the people we support. Many of them are in very challenging situations, which isn’t helped by the poor-quality housing stock. And because curtains aren’t included in the current Healthy Homes Standards there are far too many people raising children in freezing houses.
This is why we always send out best practice curtains which means lined, made to measure, floor length (where possible) curtains, because we know that they keep the heat in, save on electricity costs and help stop mould from reaching the curtain. “I can never say enough how grateful I am to have reached out to the Wellington curtain bank. The curtains they sent have made a big difference to my home, that I was struggling to do. They fit each window perfectly as if they had measured them and the warmth difference is incredible”, shared a client on last year’s survey.
We also know what a difference it makes for people in terms of feeling cared for and creating a sense of home. “The curtains I received have improved the way my home looks, as well as keeping the warmth in. The service was also equally uplifting, and I am incredibly humbled and thankful”, commented another happy client on the survey.
* Name changed to protect client’s identity.
Each year the Wellington Curtain Bank helps over 650 low-income families to stay warm in winter. One such recipient was Grace* and her children, who had to flee their own living environment and are slowly rebuilding their lives.
After she received her curtains recently, Grace emailed us to say thank you:
“I arrived home on Friday after work to find my fabulous new curtains. I almost cried. I could not believe how beautiful they were. I spent Saturday putting them up. That night was freezing, and got down to 3 degrees, but my home was so much warmer. Really amazing. Thank you so much for blessing me with such expensive curtains. They are already making a difference to the warmth of our home. Really appreciate it. I’ve walked such a hard road, and these are so lovely.”
When we contacted Grace for permission to share part of her story, and the photo that she sent us, she immediately agreed because she wanted to help other people who’d been in the same position as her.