August 7, 2018

Wellington Curtain Bank returns to Wainuiomata — bringing free curtains for low-income homes in closer reach for Wainui people.

The Curtain Bank (supported by Sustainability Trust) gives free curtains to people with Community Services Cards or Super Gold Combo Cards who need a hand warming up their homes.

Wainuiomata families can pick up a curtain order form at the Wainuiomata Community Centre (1A Queen Street) from August 13-24, drop it back by August 24 with their window measurements, and then come back in a few weeks to pick up their curtains.

Parents Amanda Clarkson and Alex Forde got curtains for their rental home late last year, after reporting to a social worker their house was cold.

“Soon after we first moved in here in winter, it was very cold. There was no underfloor insulation, the insulation in the roof was minimal, and the curtains were very,very thin. So I said to our whānau worker, what can we do? She referred us to you [Wellington Curtain Bank]”, said Amanda.

The family got lined curtains for the living room and their daughter Sophia’s bedroom. They also got underfloor insulation in their house, plus a heater - through another Sustainability Trust initiative.

“It’s made a huge, huge difference in keeping the house warmer in winter — and cooler in the summer.”

Wellington Curtain Bank has been bringing Wainuiomata communities curtains for the last five years. In that time, the Curtain Bank has warmed up the homes of 193 local families.

Across the Wellington region each year, the Curtain Bank gets lined curtains to more than 550 low-income homes — reducing power bills, increasing home comfort and improving people’s health. The curtains are made from donations of pre-loved curtains, so the service also reduces textile waste going to landfill.

ENDS

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