Warm Clothing Drives 2009
In this very, very frigid season, there are many children and families who are struggling to keep warm. Do you know of a warm clothing/coat drive where some of us could offer additional warmth to families this winter? From one of our yahoo groups, we have heard of one drive a local mama has organized:
I'd like to get the word out about a Clothing Drive I've organized to benefit Weathered Hands. They are an organization that braves the cold on Christmas Eve to deliver warm clothes, blankets, socks and other necessaties to the Homeless in Portland. Last year they were able to reach 1500 individuals and did 'bulk' drops at 17 local shelters. Of those shelters, 7 were family based (battered women's shelters, single mom's shelters, etc.)
They can use items of all sizes infant to adult, so if you've got stuff in mind taking up room in your closet or storage area, and haven't chosen an organization to donate to this Holiday Season, I ask you to consider Weathered Hands. We have a drop off at Black Wagon (on N. Mississippi).
I couldn't find much info out there about Weathered Hands, so Becca, the urbanMama organizing the drive/pick up, sent more info:
It is that time of year again when we start gearing up for Weathered Hands. We are going into our ninth year and due to current economic realities the need is at an all time high. Our goal this year is to deliver gift bags to fifteen hundred homeless citizens and concurrently deliver “bulk drops” to sixteen shelters. If you have not chosen a public benefit organization to support for the holiday season, we would welcome your donations of time, goods (please contact us for specifics), or money. Why is Weathered Hands so unique?
- We are a grassroots group that has a primary mission to give back directly to our immediate community
- One-hundred percent of all donations reach the people who are in need
- We offer opportunities for people of all ages to participate from planning, collection, production to delivery.
- We have directly impacted over ten thousand people during our first eight years
If you, your family, friends or organization have a desire to participate please contact me so we can strategize how to maximize your efforts. If you would prefer to provide merchandise our team is willing to provide a pickup service. Finally, any financial donations can be sent to the following address: Weathered Hands, 10766 SE Turnberry Loop, Happy Valley, Oregon 97086 or email: cole.chatterton@comcast.net
Feel free to share other clothing drives or ideas on how urbanFamilies can give back during this winter season.
REI Portland is holding a coat drive: http://www.rei.com/stores/store_event_detail.jsp?pid=A1832F01D8635C3339F01868BB4A1267&template_id=14&template_family=webDetail&ignore_cache=1
Not that we need any more incentive to contribute, REI will enter you into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate for each coat or sweater donated.
Posted by: olivia | December 15, 2009 at 10:41 AM
There is so much to give...but mother child education center and sisters of the road are both in dire need of diapers, especially disposables.
www.sistersoftheroad.org or www.motherandchild-edu.org
Posted by: lea | December 15, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Becca or UM moderator - Could you please have Becca email me directly or give me her contact info?
My family (especially my 10 year old daughter) would love to assist with Christmas Eve deliveries!
Thank you!
vintagemagenta@gmail.com
Posted by: Kelli | December 21, 2009 at 12:06 PM