Ithaca Rotary Launches 27th Annual Share the Warmth
Collection of warm winter clothing underway; ends December 18th
THE 27th annual Share the Warmth campaign has kicked off, with over 20 collection sites around Ithaca and Tompkins County. Donations of clean new or gently used winter clothing will be 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: Agway True Value Home Center (Cayuga Mall), BorgWarner Morse Systems (Warren Rd.), CFCU Community Credit Union (Main Branches), Island Health & Fitness (Taughannock Blvd. and Community Corners), Ithaca College Campus Center, Ithaca Community Childcare Center (579 Warren Rd.), Kendal at Ithaca, Mama Goose (430 W. State St.), P&C Fresh, Seneca Place (inside Tioga St. entrance), Triphammer Marketplace (outside Ithaca Bakery), Wegmans, YMCA, the Dryden Community Center Café, and the Shur-Save and St. James Catholic Church—both in Trumansburg, 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 18th. 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 2–13 (Monday–Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM).
All winter clothing in good repair is accepted. There is a special need for children’s and larger-sized outerwear (2X and up) and large-sized boots (13 and up), as well as coats, snow pants and boots; blankets; and hats, scarves, and mittens for all. Each article of clothing donated should be new or gently used, and clean for future recipients. Note that the emphasis is on outerwear!
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 3,620 items to 805 adults and 631 children across Tompkins County.
For more information about Share the Warmth, please contact Richard Kops (925-818-1357) or Loralyn Light (607-592-2561).