A "free shop" will be opened for the wards of the Ponetaevsky boarding school.

      13 November 2025 19:12 Society

      A third "free store" of clothing and accessories for residents will open at the Ponetaevsky psycho-neurological residential care home in Nizhny Novgorod Region. The project is being implemented as part of the People's Front's "Region of Care" initiative with the support of the autonomous nonprofit organization "Service for the Protection of Rights," the volunteer movement "Care Service," and the "Second Breath" fund, NTA-Privolzhye reports.

      The new "store" is being created not simply to hand out clothes. Residents will be able to choose items themselves by taste and size and try them on as in a regular store. After that, the clothes will remain with them until they wear out completely.

      According to Yekaterina Kantinova, director of the "Service for the Protection of Rights," most people living in care homes cannot afford to renew their wardrobes: a significant part of their pension goes to paying for accommodation, and only a few of them are employed. The items distributed centrally are uniform and often pass from one person to another after washing.

      The "Second Breath" fund supplies the project with clothing and footwear by cooperating with companies that donate unsold collections. Donations from private individuals are also accepted, but only clean and neat items make it into the "store." Often even new wardrobe items with tags arrive. The assortment is selected by season and size. Clothing will be refreshed at least once every six months. Volunteers and care home staff will help residents choose items, as in a real store.

      Unclaimed items are passed on to other care homes or orphanages. Before the opening of permanent outlets, the project existed as mobile events involving stylists and hairdressers.

      Permanent "free stores" already operate in the Borsky and Avtozavodsky care homes. Organizers plan to expand the project to other regional institutions in the future.

      Earlier it was reported that a large-scale major overhaul of the boarding school in Uren is nearing completion.

      NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay informed about the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information.

      Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain 18+ materials.