Clothes closet targets the needy
By BOB McCLURE
Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008  |
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| Photo by BOB McCLURE |
| From left, Phyllis Jenkins, Joyce Clifton, Cherie Griesheimer, Shelly Havener and Kitty Dahl operate the Women of Hope Clothes Closet at Seminole First Baptist Church, 11045 Park Blvd. |
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SEMINOLE – The women’s ministry at Seminole First Baptist Church has been active for a number of years with projects to help the poor.
The group regularly collects groceries for the Altergate Food Bank in Largo, donates school back packs to children in the Ridgecrest area of Largo and provides lunches for the homeless.
But Shelly Havener, director of the women’s ministry, saw a need for more.
After months of planning, Havener and four volunteers – Phyllis Jenkins, Kitty Dahl, Joyce Clifton and Cherie Griesheimer – launched the Women of Hope Clothes Closet at the church in January to service the clothing needs of low-income and homeless people in the Seminole area.
The operation is open Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Unlike many other clothes closets in the area, this one provides its wide selection of children’s, women’s and men’s clothing for free.
“We have a sign up that limits people to four items per week,” said Jenkins, “but we don’t care. If they’re in need we’re just here to help.”
“We’re launching a vision,” said Havener. “We’re sharing an idea to outreach and help the community.”
Havener said contrary to some beliefs, Seminole has a number of homeless and low-income residents that need assistance. Many of them are women, she said.
“We came across a lot of women who are struggling,” Havener said. “Some have job interviews and don’t have anything to wear.”
Jenkins said a woman stopped by recently because she had to go to a parent’s funeral and had nothing to wear. Others have more expansive needs.
“We’re experiencing whole families with children that are homeless,” said Havener. “We had a woman in here with five children who had just lost her husband. That was another catalyst to say ‘We’ve got to do something.’”
Since its beginning, the clothes closet has almost outgrown its 200-square-foot room at the back of the church at 11045 Park Blvd. Donations are starting to pile up and carry over into an adjacent room.
“We get a lot of children’s clothes,” said Jenkins. “We have shoes, socks, underwear. You name it. We’ve got it. We’ve got a whole closet of winter clothes we’ll soon be bringing out.”
Jenkins said the women often take donated clothing items home, wash it and iron it, if necessary.
“This isn’t just about clothing,” Havener said. “It’s about introducing Jesus to them. We’re about building relationships. We want people to come in, stay a while, have some coffee and get to know us. We just want to love them and help with their needs.”
Jenkins said the clothes closet gladly accepts clothes donations from the public, as well as cash that is used to purchase new underwear items.
For more information, call Havener at 408-0612.
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Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008
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