Two bags from an op shop

Maybe a borrowed pair of track pants. Of the twenty or so men in the unit, about half have someone outside who can send clothes in. The rest have almost nobody.

The prison has rules about what can be worn, and they rule out most of what gets donated. Neutral colours only. Black, white and grey, no blue, red, green or yellow. Clothing has turned up before from businesses wanting to help, and most of it went unused because the colours or the sizes were wrong.

Community Coordinator Jon went looking for an op shop instead. A friend of his had recently started working at Make Me New in Papanui, behind Northcity Church. He rang and told her what was needed and what wouldn't work. She came back almost straight away.

Make Me New is small and picky about what goes on the racks. Donated clothing comes in by the binful, staff sort through it, and only the best of it makes the floor. They said they'd put things aside.

Jon drove over expecting a couple of shopping bags and found two large ones waiting. They went through it together in the store. Nearly all of it was good enough to go straight out to the unit. 

"We are blessed to receive a large amount of good quality clothing, so we are always looking for opportunities to share our excess with other organisations like Pathway who are making a difference in people's lives," says Claire at Make Me New. 

Reece, who works in reintegration support, has watched what it's done inside the unit. "It's massive for the boys. Even the look on their faces when we say we can go out to the container and have a look." Most men come back with a couple of tops and a pair of socks.

Everywhere else in the prison, men wear clothing that identifies the wing they've come from. The NI Unit is the exception. It matters most on outings, when a lot of Tū Ora are already anxious about being back around people after years away.

"You can see the confidence in them," Reece says. "I'm not looking like a prisoner. I'm not going to stand out."

Another two bags are sitting in Jon's garage waiting for a chance to drive them in. Make Me New have said they'll keep putting things aside. Word has gone round the unit, and the men who haven't been out to the container yet are asking when their turn is.

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