Those who volunteer at the Community Clothes Closet don’t necessarily take the shirt off their backs to help those in need, but they donate a significant amount of their time to do so.
Last month marked the ninth year the Fifth Street clothes drop-off and collection site has been operating, and although the space is not much bigger than an actual closet, it serves a huge purpose according to a few of the at least 50 people who volunteer there.
“Even after all these years, there is still a need,” said Pat Bjorn, who oversees the project.
Bjorn said there isn’t a pick-up day that members of the community aren’t already lined up at 7:30 a.m. — waiting for the doors of the clothes closet to open at 9 a.m.
“It isn’t until you see that lineup that you realize how big of a role (the clothes closet) really does play in this community,” she said.
Darlene Tomczak said she has volunteered at the Community Clothes Closet since “day one.”
“I enjoy doing charity work,” she said. “Sorting and folding can get to be a lot of work, but on the days we see people come in here, they are so thankful. It makes it all worth it.
Operation changes
In previous years, the Community Clothes Closet has opened its doors twice per month. Each time it opened consisted of a drop-off day accompanied by a pick-up day. This year, however, Bjorn said she and others decided to open only once each month.
“The drawback is that we’re not open for our customers as often,” Bjorn said of the change. “But we do need to make it workable for our volunteers and this really does work.”
In addition, Bjorn said the change was made to accommodate new faces sorting through and folding clothes at the charity.
In January, enough money was collected from the St. Thomas Aquinas Church social parish fund to sponsor Occupational Development Center clients to volunteer at the Community Clothes Closet. Other area churches, organizations and individuals have also grouped together to help the ODC client sponsorship.
“They give us new life,” Bjorn said of the three ODC clients. “They come with such a spirit and are full of such joy.”
Bjorn stressed how much she could tell the clients love working at the clothes closet, and added that others are also benefiting from having the new help. “(The clients) have definitely contributed to the already cheerful atmosphere volunteers share here.”
Jenell Feller, ODC division coordinator, said the clients are “getting self esteem from this job that is life changing.”
Feller said each client is escorted by a job coach who assists whenever needed, however, the “job” is one the clients can do almost entirely by themselves.
April Stevens, ODC client, had a huge smile on her face as she described her duties and how much she enjoyed coming to the clothes closet.
“I really like it,” she said.
Bjorn said the two days each month the Community Clothes Closet will be opened will fall around mid-month. The next scheduled dates are June 13 for drop-off from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and June 14 for pick-up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Community Clothes Closet is located at 810 Fifth Street.
