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The 28th annual Share the Warmth campaign has kicked off, with more than 20 collection sites throughout Tompkins County.The clothing drive is running three weeks earlier than usual due to COVID-19 and to growing food insecurity at this time. Donations of clean new or gently used winter clothing will be collected, sorted, and distributed across the area by volunteers from several partner organizations: the Ithaca and Trumansburg Rotary Clubs; Cornell University; Finger Lakes ReUse; and Catholic Charities of Tompkins/Tioga.
The familiar “red box” collection bins can be found at the following locations: 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), Kendal at Ithaca, Mama Goose (609 W. Clinton St. starting Nov 1), P&C Fresh, Tops Friendly Market (2300 N. Triphammer Rd.), Wegmans, YMCA, and in Trumansburg, the Shur-Save and St. James Catholic Church. No collection sites will be located at Cornell University nor Ithaca College this year, due to COVID-19.
Each location will be accessible for a five-week collection period, scheduled to conclude on November 23. 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 November 9 – 20, Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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, boots, blankets, hats, scarves and mittens. 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 expanded throughout the county in 1993. Last year, the program distributed more than 3,067 items to 753 adults and 514 children across Tompkins County.
For more information about Share the Warmth, please contact Richard Kops (925-818-1357; rkops@hotmail.com) or Loralyn Light (607-592-2561; LL48@cornell.edu).
The Rotary Club of Ithaca currently gathers every Wednesday at 12:15 for Zoom meetings. The public is welcome to attend to learn more about Rotary. To request a Zoom link to a meeting, please visit www.IthacaRotary.com.