The Gloucester County Women’s Club is preparing for its second clothing drive after raising $1,700 last August.
The drive will be held on May 14 at Washington Township High School, by the 11-12 wing, and will run from 3 to 7 p.m. It differs from most drives because clothes will not be the only items accepted.
Items welcomed will include clothing, shoes and accessories such as pocketbooks, totes, backpacks, wallets, belts, ties and the like, household linens, soft toys, hard toys and housewares 24 inches or smaller. All items donated must be in taped boxes or tied up in bags; open boxes or containers will not be accepted.
“It is a super-easy fundraiser, especially with people being home and with spring cleaning,” said Mary Schneider, president of the women’s club. “I think because people had to be home, they looked at the clutter they had and we made out really well.”
The donations are collected and weighed by Philadelphia-based Bargain Thrift and the club earns 20 cents per pound. At last year’s drive, the club collected over 8,000 pounds of discarded items.
“It really helps with the budget and being able to do what we do, like buy meals for Ronald McDonald House and things of that nature,” said Schneider.
The clothing drive is not the only current club effort; more participants are being sought for the annual Adopt a Family raffle.
“Around Christmas, we were able to adopt two families with two kids,” Schneider noted. “The money usually goes towards the kids, but we were able to buy something for the moms and dads.”
The raffle tickets are $1 each and earn particiaptns the chance to win gift cards worth $250. The money will help pay for presents to families in need during the holidays. In order to receive tickets for the raffle, email [email protected] and ask for the tickets to be sent in the mail. The drawing will take place on May 8.
“Whatever comes along, we try to find a way to do it,” said Schneider. “We do a lot of different and really cool things.”
Other things the club has accomplished in the last year include providing Ronald McDonald House with one breakfast and two dinners as well as 50 snack bags, 45 pillows, paper goods and juices, and the awarding of three, $250 scholarships to graduating seniors at Clearview, Gateway, and Washington Township high schools.
The club always seeks new members. Members have been meeting via Zoom since May 2020, but held their first in person session at Washington Lake Park on April 8.
To participate in the Gloucester County Women’s Club, email [email protected] with a name, address and phone number. Email can also be used by anyone interested in receiving a monthly club newsletter to keep up with ongoing events.
