You’ll be amazed at the response to it – both from those who were helped, and from the volunteers …
Participants in the first “Lents Community Clothing Closet Day” aren’t limited to one neighborhood, they come from throughout the greater outer East Portland area.
Story and photos by David F. Ashton
What started as an idea to serve people in need – while helping the environment – turned into the inaugural “Lents Community Clothing Closet Day” on January 3, at the Lents Activity Center.
>> See our story about volunteers preparing for this event: CLICK HERE.
Participants look through clothing, sorted by garment type and size.
As promised in their promotion, the Center was bustling with activity as people “shopped” among dozens of tables laden with clothing, coats, accessories, and shoes.
“We gathered and put out well over 500 pounds of goods,” said Lents Neighborhood Association (LNA) Board Member Robert Schultz.
Event organizer Sabina Urdes admires a “treasure” found by butterfly enthusiast Carol Specht.
“Indeed, we’ve a lot of clothes; mostly for women, some for men and kids,” agreed LNA Chair Sabina Urdes, the organizer of the free clothing fair.
“Both the amount of donations that we received, and the attendance that we’ve seen here today, have exceeded our expectations,” Urdes told East Portland News.
Caleb Green, Tamara Pedrojetti, Danielle Adams, and Lei Pascual – all with CareOregon – say they’re pleased to have signed up nine families who will get their help.
Those needing clothes seemed enthusiastically grateful for the gift of good quality clothing. “People really seem to like this; the question I get asked the most often is if – and hopefully when – we’ll be holding the next ‘Community Clothing Closet’,” remarked Urdes.
It’s possible, she said, that they’ll schedule another similar event in the late spring or summer. “Fortunately, people have been very eager to donate and volunteer,” Urdes related. “It seems that our neighbors want to help make something like this happen.”
Inside Portland Adventist Community Services, neighbor Crystal McGauvran gets groceries for her family with the help of PACS volunteer Vern Henry.
After it was over, Urdes told East Portland News that they’d served about 150 people during thisr first inaugural “Lents Community Clothing Closet Day” – and the PACS “COW” provided groceries for 48 families.
By the way, the PACS “COW” trailer will be at the Lents Activity Center on the first Thursday of every month, 3:30 until 5:00 p.m.
So, it seems that Lents neighbors have found a positive intersection of helping others, while making a positive impact for the “reuse and recycle” cause.
Stay in touch with the Lents Neighborhood Association by visiting their Facebook page: CLICK HERE to do so.
© 2019 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™