How often have you donated your used clothing to a random bin in the parking lot of a bank or gas station and never see where it ends up or who the benefactor is of your gift? Hindley has a rich history of giving back to the local community and would like to provide a more tangible and rewarding experience for the both the donor and recipient of clothing for those in need.
From March 26th to April 6th, Hindley School along with the help of the Hindley Spiriteers and Schwind family will be holding a clothing drive to aid families in Fairfield County. All clothing and shoes that are donated via a bin in the opening corridor of the school will go to Open Door Shelter (http://opendoorshelter.org), an emergency shelter and social services organization in Norwalk that works with people in need to provide shelter, support, and a plan for success. Open Door is merely six miles from the Hindley campus and plays an important role in our local community to those who require basic necessities and especially within the City of Norwalk where due to recent budget cuts no longer has a department of social services to directly assist those in the greatest of need.
How Your Donations Help
Open Door’s clothing center is a resource that provides quality wardrobes for people dealing with poverty and homelessness here in our community. Open Door serves over 1,500 individuals and families who are struggling to provide basic necessities of food, shelter and clothing. Many families rely on Open Door for children’s school clothes, sturdy boots and shoes, and seasonally-appropriate clothing.
Good shoes make a world of difference to someone whose primary form of transportation is walking. Rain jackets and items of clothing that are easy to layer are always needed at this time of year and truly appreciated.
Most Needed Items for the Spring: (youth and adult sizes)
- New /used boots and shoes
- New /used rain jackets and light coats
- New undershirts and underwear
New and gently used clothing, outerwear, and shoes of all sizes and for all ages are accepted and greatly appreciated. New underclothes only, please.
Sometime in May, there will be a pop up clothing pantry and barbecue at the Open Door Shelter in Norwalk where Hindley families are encouraged to attend and or volunteer. This is a family friendly endeavor and we hope parents and children will get involved, be inspired to help others and create their own community project in the near future.
If you have any questions on the project or would like to learn more about Open Door and ways to make a difference, please contact Erin McDonough atemcdonough@opendoorshelter.