BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermonters are grabbing bags of clothes from their cars and getting into the giving spirit.
“I mean I figure if my kids are going through things, other kids are going through things. It is a lot easier to grab something if you need it, than to have to think about, how am I going to afford to buy that,” said Williston mom Courtney Power-Freeman.
Courtney Power-Freeman decided to spend her Sunday donating some clothes to Burlington’s North End Food Pantry. She says her kids need all new winter gear. She hopes the used clothes will be able to keep other children warm this winter.
”Oh, it feels pretty great to give. Feels great to get things out of the house. More importantly it feels great to give to a cause that other people need,” Power-Freeman said.
Every fourth Sunday of the month the Odd Fellows Pantry does a clothing drive, to fill their boutique. On Sunday alone, over 30 people showed up to donate bags of old and new clothes. The drive, taking all things winter gear, with over a thousand items donated from the community. Although many organizations are seeing a shortage in donations, the North End is keeping their closet, and food shelf stocked.
“We did have an issue where people would sometimes come and drop items off in the back of the lodge, and just leave them there. So doing the monthly clothing drive allows us to have things on the shelfs that are clean. Or not ripped, or dirty, or maybe not in the season,” said Chair of the North End Food Pantry Linda Looney.
Those donating say it’s a small way for them to make a difference during the holiday season.
“Oh there is a terrific need. I felt really glad to be able to respond to it. With Christmas coming it opens people’s hearts a little more than in the middle of the summer,” said Burlington local Chip Hart.
The pantry will remain open on weekends from nine to eleven as the season continues.
