Member Valerie Soemadi introduced Amy Hospodarsky of the Crowded Closet, an Iowa City thrift shop, as the speaker. The mission of the Crowded Closet is to support the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) with relief, service and development programs and provide local relief. The MCC provides relief in conflict and disaster areas, development services to help communities access food and water, income generation and health and education services and further works for peace. The Crowded Closet supports three major programs through vouchers for those in need to shop--the Community Crisis and Food Center, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, and the Catholic Worker House. It has been in existence for 48 years and is now located in Pepperwood Plaza in Iowa City. It is a thrift store that was start by five Mennonite women. Originally, it had no staff; however, its staff has now grown to 24 staff members and more than 400 volunteers! There are three major ways one can interact with the MCC's Crowded Closet--shop, donate, and/or volunteer. The Crowded Closet wants to provide clean quality goods at an affordable price.
The Crowded Closet's website at https://www.crowdedcloset.org/ provides information about what it can take and not take. The Crowded Closet also has a silent auction and online stores through Biblio for rare books and eBay. Volunteers can do almost all jobs that staff does. Volunteers can even put together puzzles.
Mark Patton and John McKinstry, Co-Presidents, opened the meeting at the Kirkwood Room at 7:00 a.m. John played the ukulele and let the group in song ("You are my sunshine...."). A meal sign up was distributed for Ann R. The food fight is going well. Greg Probst has Rotary Youth Exchange T-Shirts he will make available to promote Rotary Youth Exchange. Member Valerie Soemadi introduced Amy Hospodarsky of the Crowded Closet as the speaker. The Crowded Closet is a local thrift shop affiliated with the MCC that does tremendous good work! Mark Patton closed the meeting at 7:30 p.m.