Celebrating a First for Geelong: Mobile Wardrobe Launch Brings Dignity and Choice to People in Need
On a sunny morning in Geelong, community leaders, partners, and supporters gathered at Cloverdale Community Centre to witness a milestone moment – the launch of Thread Together’s Geelong-based Mobile Wardrobe. As the door of the brand-new van slid open, guests got their first glimpse inside the travelling clothing service that will transform how our community accesses essential clothing – bringing dignity, choice, and connection directly to those who need it most.
The launch was a celebration of collaboration and community spirit. Funded by the Geelong Community Foundation’s special 25-year anniversary grant of $100,000 as well as the Anthony Costa Foundation, this Mobile Wardrobe will serve people across the region, meeting them where they are and providing access to brand-new, quality clothing. It’s a tangible example of how philanthropy can create lasting, local impact.
Why This Matters
“Appropriate clothing isn’t a luxury. It’s essential for warmth, protection, school, work, and dignity. Yet for many in Geelong, the rising cost of living has pushed clothing to the bottom of the priority list. Too many people face impossible choices between paying for rent, food, medicine, and clothes.” – Amy Waters, Geelong Community Foundation CEO
Thread Together’s model ensures every item is new, not second-hand, and that recipients have the dignity of choice – selecting the right size, colours, and styles that make people feel confident and like they belong.
Access to quality clothing can reduce social isolation, improve confidence, and open doors to new opportunities. By taking the wardrobe on wheels directly to neighborhood houses, community hubs, and local events, this service removes transport barriers and ensures support reaches people experiencing homelessness, families recovering from crisis, and others facing hardship in our region.
More Than Clothes: Delivering Confidence and Identity
“This next step goes further, bringing choice, style, self-expression, and humanity into the equation, and delivering not just clothes but confidence, identity, and empowerment to those who need it most.” – Amy Waters, Geelong Community Foundation CEO
The Geelong Mobile Wardrobe will visit community hubs and partner organisations across the region, offering a welcoming, accessible space where people can choose new clothing for everyday life, work, and more.
A Shared Vision for Geelong
The launch of the Geelong Mobile Wardrobe is a powerful example of what can be achieved when philanthropy and community come together with a shared purpose. It reflects the Foundation’s vision of a more connected, fair, and thriving Geelong community – where everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity and feel part of the place they call home.
We look forward to seeing the Mobile Wardrobe on the road, meeting people where they are, and making a difference across our region. This initiative is just one way we’re working towards a Geelong where dignity, hope, and opportunity are within everyone’s reach.
