In 2014, a South African named Max Pazak came up with the idea of a pop-up clothing swap shop that made it easier for people to donate and more dignified to receive.

Since then, kindness walls have sprung up in Chinese cities, including Qingdao, Shandong province.

In Qingdao, hooks and hangers have appeared on the side of a building under the words: "If you need something, take it.""It is just like what you would do at home. You hang up your clothes when you have finished wearing them and you take them down again and put them on when you are going out," said Wang Lei, director of Chuangyi Workshop, a local charity organization that is spearheading the program in Qingdao.

When clothes were first hung on the wall, passers-by thought they were for sale, said Wang, but after they learned the truth, people slowly started to come up and try them on.

"This is a simple, immediate way of helping people and it makes my spare clothing useful to others," said Qingdao native Tan Jing, who was dropping her second load of clothing off at the wall in two days.

Wang has been touched by people's generosity. "Some of the clothing is practically new. I don't even have to wash my hands after sorting it," she said.

Jiang Tao, publicity director for the China Philanthropy Research Institute, said the initiative removes the stigma of people having to ask for charity.

Contact the writer at huoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

Xinhua contributed to this story.

A resident hangs a coat on the Wall of Kindness on Jiading Road, Qingdao city, East China's Shandong province, Jan 31, 2016. [Photo/IC]