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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MEDIA ADVISORY
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Law Firms Lead Community Effort to Clothe the Homeless Massive Clothing Drive Aims to Serve at Least 75 Area Homeless Service Providers |
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Washington, D.C., November 22, 2019 – Gifts for the Homeless, Inc. (GFTH), a non-profit, all-volunteer organization started by concerned lawyers more than three decades ago, will once again rally the legal community and individuals in the Washington, D.C. metro area to collect used clothing and deliver it to area shelters and homeless service providers.. This year the Drive will be held from Friday, December 6, 2019, through Sunday, December 8, 2019, at 2300 N Street, N.W. in the West End neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Donations will be accepted on Friday all day, and again Saturday morning and volunteers are needed throughout the weekend.
GFTH would like to thank the owners and managers of 2300 N Street, N.W. for their generous donation of our donation, sorting and delivery headquarters for the weekend, for the third straight year. Teachers Retirement System of the State of Illinois owns the building, which is managed by Lincoln Property Company. GFTH has no “bricks and mortar” facility, so the donation of this gathering space is essential to the success of the effort.
The Used Clothing Drive brings together more than 300 volunteers to sort, bag and deliver 3,000 – 4,000 bags of gently-used clothing and other items to area shelters, soup kitchens, transitional homes and other homeless service providers. GFTH recruits volunteers from among 100 participating law firms, corporate law departments, government agencies, legal vendors, and other organizations. Other community members are also welcome and encouraged to donate and volunteer. Information on how to participate and volunteer is available at www.gfth.org.
GFTH will accept donations of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing of all types (except used underwear and swimsuits), coats, hats, gloves, scarves and shoes, as well as blankets, sleeping bags, sheets, towels and unopened toiletries (travel-sized preferred) at 2300 N Street, N.W., on Friday, December 6, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 8:30 a.m. until noon. Most of the donations, however, will come from what GFTH calls “feeder drives.” “Participating organizations will collect donations at their own offices during the month of November, and feed them into the big GFTH Drive for sorting and delivery, all in two and one-half days,” said Joseph Edmondson, V.P. of Used Clothing and a member of GFTH’s Board. This is the 13th year Mr. Edmondson, a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Foley & Lardner LLP, has chaired the drive.
As part of the drive, GFTH also solicits monetary donations – as it does throughout the year. 100% of funds raised from the public are used to purchase and distribute new clothing in critical demand, such as coats, thermal underwear, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, gloves, socks, and blankets. GFTH leverages monetary donations by purchasing new clothing direct from manufacturers and distributers in bulk, at deep discounts. GFTH has no paid staff and all overhead is covered by Board members and their employers.
Bart Epstein, President of GFTH noted: “This is our 33rd used clothing drive. Our biggest need is always for men’s coats, gloves, hats and warm winter clothing. We urge everyone to clean out their closets this fall and make the winter a little warmer for those in need.”
Media Contacts: Joseph Edmondson (202) 215-2410; Tony Mauro (703) 508-1867. For more information, please visit the Gifts for the Homeless website at www.gfth.org.