ITHACA, N.Y. – The 25th annual Share the Warmth campaign has kicked off, with twenty collection sites around Ithaca and Tompkins County. Donations of clean new or gently used winter clothing will be gratefully collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from a number of partner organizations: the Ithaca, Dryden, and Trumansburg Rotary Clubs; Cornell University; Ithaca College; Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga; and Finger Lakes ReUse.
The familiar “red box” collection bins can be found at locations around Tompkins County, including: Agway True Value Home Center (Cayuga Mall), CFCU Community Credit Union (Main Branches), Gimme! Coffee (506 W. State St.), Island Health & Fitness (Taughannock Blvd. and Community Corners), Ithaca College Campus Center, Ithaca High School Main Office, Kendal at Ithaca, P&C Fresh, Seneca Place (inside Tioga St. entrance), SPCA of Tompkins County Annex (Shops at Ithaca Mall), Triphammer Marketplace (outside Ithaca Bakery), Wegmans, YMCA, Trumansburg Shur-Save, and the Rite Aid in Dryden, as well as at locations around the Cornell campus.
Each location will be accessible for a five-week collection period, scheduled to conclude on December 12. Clothes will be picked up by Finger Lakes ReUse, sorted by Rotary volunteers, and readied for distribution through the Samaritan Center of Catholic Charities. The donated clothing is then distributed by Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga free of charge to individuals who need such items for the winter months. Distribution will take place December 4 – 15 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM).
All winter clothing in good repair is accepted. There is a special need for larger-sized clothing (2X and up) and large-sized boots (13 and up), as well as coats, snow pants, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens for all—and blankets. Each article of clothing donated should be new or gently used, and clean for future recipients.
Share the Warmth was initiated by the Ithaca Rotary Club in 1987 on the Cornell campus and then in 1993 throughout the county. Last year, the program distributed more than 3,350 items to 510 households across Tompkins County.
For more information about Share the Warmth, please contact Loralyn Light (607-592-2561 or LL48@cornell.edu). Additional information about the Rotary Club of Ithaca may be found at www.IthacaRotary.com.
The Rotary Club of Ithaca gathers every Wednesday at 12:15 for luncheon meetings held at Coltivare. The public is welcome to attend to learn more about Rotary; cost is $15 at the door. Ithaca Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Membership is open to all community members who share in this belief; new members are accepted year-round. CallMembership Chair Ron Provus at 607-351 8539 or ron@hospitalityinternational.com.
Featured image: “My closet” by m01229 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
