The dedicated group of volunteers arrived well in advance to restock the store with newly donated items this Thursday. Like they do every Thursday. An hour before opening, there was already a queue outside the shop with people in need of something for themselves or their new home in Tromsø.
At the Dropshop in Strandvegen, refugees settled in Tromsø or elsewhere in the area can choose items they need for themselves or their home. A wide selection of clothing, sports equipment, beds, toys, sofas, kitchenware, and appliances donated by Tromsø’s generous residents are waiting to find new owners. Otherwise, these items might have been thrown away.
Priority is given to those who have been resettled in the city most recently, i.e., within the last 12 months. We often see that they arrive in apartments that are completely empty. That’s when it’s helpful to visit the Dropshop and pick out beds, bedding, curtains, kitchenware, and clothes for the family. If something isn’t available in the Dropshop, a request can be made. Usually, the requested items are provided within a short time. And of course, everything in the store is completely free.
For those without access to a car, our volunteer drivers help by delivering the largest items directly to their homes.
The Deputy Mayor of Tromsø was very impressed with the selection at the Dropshop and how the volunteers professionally organized both the reception of new items and the customers from many different countries in the store.
The Dropshop has several positive side effects, in addition to the environmental aspect and providing newcomers with what they need.
It is also very popular among newly arrived refugees to contribute as volunteers at the Dropshop. There, they meet local volunteers, making the Dropshop a space for integration and language practice as well. Read more about the Dropshop in Tromsø here.
Thanks to support from Tromsø Municipality, we have now been able to hire a project coordinator to manage the Dropshop throughout the rest of the year. Our newly hired coordinator, Natalia, fled Ukraine when the war escalated in 2022 and has been one of our most active volunteers since arriving in the city.