Clothing for Those in Need
In June 2007
Clara’s Closet was
started by Kim Chastain and Mark North in honor of Kim’s Daughter Clara
Chastain who passed away on June 5, 2005.
The congregation has been so generous
with their donations of lightly used clothing and shoes. Some have
volunteered
to purchase items that are requested but not in our inventory of
clothing. Some routinely bargain shop with
their own
money and donate school attire clothing to the “Closet.” Some clothes
are
picked up at church but most of them are delivered by members of the
congregation. In 2007, 108 people were
clothed and as of May 31, 2008 74 people have been clothed for a total
of 182
people. Clara’s Closet delivers a
clothes rack to Cumberland View Towers when the congregation has its
monthly
devotional there. (the work of Glen and
Barbara Burton)
When people need clothes we often find that they have other needs as well. For ecample: in May 2008 the Closet received a request for clothes for an elderly gentleman who had just moved into Cumberland View Towers. When the clothes were delivered to him, it was clear that he had virtually moved into this apartment with the clothes on his back. The church members came together and provided this gentleman with a bed, mattresses, bed clothes, kitchen items and other things he needed.
The
inventory for Clara’s Closet
has continued to grow from the generous donation of church
members.
The area needed for the Closet has grown and
with the help of the Bible School department, the Closet will be
expanding
soon.