St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, 225 S. Pagosa Blvd., will hold its Annual Clothing Giveaway on Friday, Oct. 9, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon, continuing a long-running effort to help residents prepare for colder weather.
The free event brings together donated winter clothing and footwear for people of all ages. Community members may browse the available items and select what they need, making the giveaway a practical way for neighbors to share useful clothing while reducing waste. Volunteers will be available to assist in finding the right size and style while keeping the selection in good order for all guests.
The days when people had one or two good outfits for work, play, sleep and special occasions is long gone. Today’s fashion industry changes colors and styles with every season. Those of us who try to keep up or cannot resist a good sale often end up with overflowing closets and drawers. Our thrift stores can only take a few items at a time.
The Annual Clothing Giveaway is your chance to start fresh. How many sweaters and warm jackets do you really need? How about the pile of hats, mittens, gloves and scarves that seem to reproduce on the upper shelf in the hall closet? Pick your favorite and let others find their favorite among the discards.
Our volunteer organizers welcome donations of lightly used, clean items suitable for the season, including coats, jackets, sweaters, warm pants, shirts, hats, gloves, socks, shoes and boots, hats and mittens, sleep wear, and even warm bedding. We will be available to accept donations at the St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, next door to Pagosa Springs Medical Center, between 9 a.m. and noon each day from Oct. 3 through Oct. 9. Sorting is much easier if the clean, lightly worn clothes are separated by genre and size.
The sorting is a huge operation. Sometimes people come with a truckful of large sacks from a deceased relative or a child who has moved away without their mess. Our horde of volunteers is happy to open them all and set items out in the right area. We have a room for men’s wear, a large one for women’s, one for children and another for warm outerwear. We try to arrange clothing by size to make it easier to shop.
During the shopping period, volunteers neaten the stacks so that all have a successful experience and find just the right things. Our volunteers are happy to try things on for size if your loved is not with you. Us volunteers are all sizes.
If you are interested in volunteering for the event, contact St. Patrick’s office at (970) 731-5801 to sign up for a time slot. It is a heart-warming experience.
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