What happened: This dress bank, run by Nasar Thootha who is taxi driver based in Kerala, is one-of-a-kind charity that distributes used wedding gowns – saris, ankle-length skirts, and dresses – donated by wealthy families to the women in need. Back-story: Last year, 44-year-old Thootha, a Saudi Arabia returnee began requesting that people donate their unwanted wedding gowns to the cause via WhatsApp and Facebook. According to the philanthropist, he began the “dress bank” on an experimental basis in April 2020 from a room in his home. Brides’ families contact him via Facebook and then go directly to the bank to select the dress of their choice, regardless of cost. “Wedding attires are all about vanity. They are worn for a few hours and then never come out of the cupboards. Realising this, many families came forward to support our cause,” said Thootha. The success: So far, the bank has provided free outfits for more than 260 underprivileged brides. The bank currently has over 800 dresses in stock, with prices ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Indian rupees which are suitable for Muslim, Christian and Hindu brides. Over time, contributions began to pour in not only from Kerala, but also from neighboring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu states.