GREENE – “I might have to call in tomorrow,” laughed Greene Community Clothing Bank Volunteer Jean Rhodes, as she and the non-profit community group’s co-founder, Janet Kozisky stood at the window on Tuesday. Their eyes were fixed on silver van parked below, emblazoned with the Chenango Carpet and Furniture logo.
It wasn’t carpet or furniture being unloaded from the back of the vehicle, however, but bag after bag of donated clothing. More than 5,000 pieces of clothing, as a matter of fact. All of which were collected at the Greene High School during a 5-day clothing drive orchestrated by students involved with Interact, a student service organization affiliated with Rotary International.
According to Rhodes, it is the largest donation of clothing the organization has received since it was founded in 2007.
“We are so appreciative,” said Kozisky, who started the non-profit with the help of Greene resident Ginny Austin after recognizing the need in the community following the 2006 floods.
The pair began their efforts at the Highland Park Church, but quickly outgrew their allotted space. In April of 2008, they relocated to their present location, above the Village of Greene offices at 49 Genesee Street in Greene. The village donates the space, which once housed the municipality’s Fire Department.
Staffed entirely by volunteers and filled by donations, the clothing bank offers garments in all shapes and sizes as well as a limited amount of other items like children’s toys and books. There is no checkout counter, and the only cash accepted is by way of donations.
High School Counselor Matt Butler, who serves as Interact’s advisor, credited the idea for the clothing drive to the club’s president, Senior George Flanaghan.
“He came in my office in December and said he wanted to do one big project before he graduated,” Butler explained. After careful deliberation, they decided to direct their efforts toward helping the community clothing bank.
“We wanted to give back to our community,” explained Senior Ethan Buhl, who also serves as an officer in the student organization. And since, as the senior explained, “everyone has extra clothes,” no one had to go out and buy something in order to support the cause. They just had to clean out their closets.
Initially, their goal for the five-day drive, held the third week in April, was 1,000 pieces of clothing. The entire school helped out, with teachers offering extra credit and other incentives to those who brought in clothes for the drive. Within two days, they had already exceeded their expectations - and their goal. By the end of the week, more than 5,000 clothing items were packed into the high school guidance office, waiting to be transported to the clothing bank.
On Tuesday, roughly half of the students active with the organization loaded the van, which had been volunteered for the occasion by Chenango Carpet owner Roger Connelly. The remainder of the group walked downtown, so they would be on hand to unload the vehicle and personally deliver the bags of clothing to the clothing bank.
It was no easy task, as the van was loaded to the gills, and accessing the clothing bank’s second floor location requires climbing a lengthy flight of narrow stairs. But the students were up for the task, and didn’t pause in their labor until every bag had reached its destination.
For the Interact members, knowing they had done something positive to help the community is reward enough for their efforts. But as a school-wide reward for all the Greene High School students who participated in the drive, Butler said the school is planning a field day on May 14. The event will include a number of activities and grade level competitions, he said.
According to Kozisky, the donation couldn’t have come at a better time for the Community Clothing Bank. This last year she said they have seen an influx in people needing their services, both from Greene and surrounding communities. She attributed this increased need to the economy, as well as the closing of the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Norwich.
The Greene Community Clothing Bank is open from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Donations are only accepted during those hours as well.
While all donations of clean, gently worn clothing are accepted, Kozisky said they have a continued need for children’s clothing, particularly in infant and toddler sizes, as well as men’s jeans.
The clothing bank will be closed from May 8 through 15 to allow for the location’s windows to be replaced. It will return to regular hours on Tuesday, May 18.
For more information, contact Kozisky at 656-8256.