Saras Care finds home in Docklands

Emerging not-for-profit organisation Saras Care has established its home at The District Docklands, and its managing director is keen to make the space one for the whole community.

Gautam Gupta has been quick to announce himself as a Docklands advocate since moving his charity’s headquarters to the area this year.

Last month, he joined the Docklands Chamber of Commerce and committed to the role of treasurer, bringing valuable social justice expertise previously missing from the business group’s committee.

Furthermore, he’s been busy connecting with a number of other local organisations, including the The District, Neighbourhood House and Docklands Primary School, as he pursues helping those most in need of support in our community.

A graduate of the Institute of Company Directors, professional board director and self-described “governance expert” with more than 20 years of experience, Mr Gupta told Docklands News he launched Saras Care four years ago to use his expertise for good.

The organisation was established to support those predominantly at risk of homelessness and unemployment by sourcing clothes and other goods for distribution through a range of philanthropic partnerships with companies such as BIG W and Bunnings.

“We’re getting a lot of stuff. It’s all of the excess goods that large corporates have,” Mr Gupta said.

“So, what happens is, let’s say, BIG W has floor stock that it can’t stock that’s just going out of fashion and they can’t sell it. It would normally go to landfill so we’re repurposing that and giving it to people most in need.

Its other major service is providing training for those seeking employment. Mr Gupta said that from more than 500 trainees the organisation had helped during the past four years, more than 400 of them were now in meaningful jobs.

In between these services, Saras Care also hosts workshops and awareness campaigns on a range of important issues including women’s health and safety and mental health. And while those at risk of homelessness are a major beneficiary of its support services, so too are multicultural communities and international students.

Operating across two shopfronts at G14/15 at The District, one space is dedicated to hosting workshops, which Mr Gupta said he wanted to open up to community groups to use for networking and hosting events.

With equipment donated from organisations such as Kogan, Google and Microsoft, the hub offers desk space, computer access and meeting areas for the community to enjoy.

In the other space next door is Saras Care’s warehouse, filled with boxes upon boxes of donated goods, which Mr Gupta said were in desperate need of organising and shelving.

With a sign up the front stipulating that it doesn’t buy or sell, Mr Gupta said it strictly distributed the goods through its partner organisations and own initiatives.

He’s calling for any volunteers with spare time to help organise the goods in the warehouse, and better yet, for any willing donors with unwanted shelves!

“I would like to invite the community to come and be part of our warehouse if they have time,” he said. “We’re on the lookout for shelving units.” •

For more information or to donate: saras.care