As the school year winds down, Chic Mamas is once again calling on families across Johannesburg to donate their unused or gently used stationery to help children start the new year with confidence.

The initiative began when founder Bronweyn Hinde Craig noticed how much stationery her own children brought home each year, much of it barely used. At the same time, many schools continued to insist on new stationery boxes at the start of each term. “We realised there was an enormous need,” she explained, “and once people began asking if we accepted stationery, the drive grew naturally.”

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Over the years, the project has expanded into a reliable support system for several community organisations. Donations are distributed to Friends of Hope, which supports schools in Cosmo City, Cradle of Hope in Krugersdorp West, and DaySpring Children’s Village in Magaliesburg. Chic Mamas works closely with these partners to ensure every item is shared fairly and reaches learners who need it most.

For Craig, the impact is clear in the faces of the children who receive the packs. “Each precious child’s life is changed when they know their new school year starts with a full pencil bag supplied by people who care,” she said.

The drive accepts almost all types of used stationery, including pens, pencils, crayons, kokis, paintbrushes, paints, unused pages in books, pencil bags, backpacks and more. “We find a home for absolutely everything.”

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Community involvement has risen sharply this year, helped by the expansion of Chic Mamas’ shop in Linden. More foot traffic has meant more people learning about their work. As the school year comes to an end, donations of both clothing and stationery typically increase.

Families who want to contribute can drop off items at the Chic Mamas shop at 59 4th Avenue, Linden Place. While the ideal time to donate is when schools close for the year, the organisation accepts contributions throughout the year.

Beyond stationery, Craig highlighted that clothing donations remain the lifeline of the organisation. The sale of high-quality pre-loved clothing in their three shops funds their Early Childhood Development projects. “Donate, donate, donate great quality clothing,” she urged.

Looking ahead, Chic Mamas plans to continue the stationery drive annually, staying true to their Reduce, Reuse, Recycle philosophy. Their goal is simple: to ease parents’ financial stress while giving every child the tools they need to succeed.

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