Katrina Clothing Donations

flute · September 2005

Does anyone know if there is any local charity or organization that is collecting clothing for the hurricane refugees?

I know a lot of the sites (Red Cross, etc.) say that $$ are the best way to donate because it's just more work for them to sort through things like food and clothing.

But I have some decent stuff I was gonna give to a thrift shop or salvation army, but would prefer to send it to those affected by Katrina, if possible.

jamesondean · September 2005

Salvation Army will make use of your clothes. Sometimes there's a surplus, which they'll sell to clothes exporters for money, which then goes to help the poor (see this month's National Geographic). Bottom line is that donating your clothes is a good cause, whether or not they're then shipped to help evacuees. If you want, you can call the Salvation Army on Bergen and Flatbush and see what they have to say, although you might do better going in person.

jack · September 2005

What JamesonVandy says is correct. But I just also want to point out that while it might seem like a good idea to donate clothing, unless you are right near the refugees clothing is just not going to get there. When they can barely get suppples such as water, food, medicine in there I don't think carrying bags of clothing is going to be on the top of the list.

My suggestion is that you might want to visit Beacon's Closet on 5th Avenue and President Street in Park Slope. They buy and sell vintage and hipster-ish clothing. And they pay a fair price. So if you end up selling a good chunk of your clothes to them, you can then take that money earned and donate it to a charity of your choice.

flute · September 2005

JamesonVandy wrote: Bottom line is that donating your clothes is a good cause, whether or not they're then shipped to help evacuees.

My problem with the Salvation Army is that I personally know many people who shop stuff there who are just plain looking for bargains or vintage clothing. Many of them are not needy by any stretch of the imagination.

I typically donate to a church on 7th Avenue that maintains a thift shop where I know needy people shop. I'll take my stuff there again this year if no one is collecting SPECIFICALLY for hurricane victims.

jack · September 2005

FLUTE wrote: My problem with the Salvation Army is that I personally know many people who shop stuff there who are just plain looking for bargains or vintage clothing. Many of them are not needy by any stretch of the imagination.

Exactly, but when they go to the cash register and pay for their bargain finds--count me as one of those people--that money then goes straight to the Salvation Army to help in their efforts to do what they do.

No matter how you slice it, if the Salvation Army gets $$$ from a sale of an item, that's a good thing.

flute · September 2005

Jack wrote: count me as one of those people

... call me skeptical or stupid ... but I'd much rather find a place that distributes or sells clothing to people who REALLY need it and cut out the large bureaucratic "middle-man" ... an excellent example is the yearly coat drive that NYC runs in the winter ...

jack · September 2005

FLUTE wrote: ... call me skeptical or stupid ... but I'd much rather find a place that distributes or sells clothing to people who REALLY need it and cut out the large bureaucratic "middle-man" ... an excellent example is the yearly coat drive that NYC runs in the winter ...

Well, if you were in a relief agency organizing what should be shipped from outside states to Katrina, do you think that it would be wise to take up space that could be used to transport food & medicine in favor of bags of heavy clothing?

If we were in Texas, Alabama, Florida or unaffected parts of the states worst hit, I think donating clothes would be a great idea and there are local groups doing as much. But when you're in New York City and the issue is shipping resources, I don't think the chances are good of finding a local agency that would be accepting such items for Katrina.

That's why I suggested selling clothes locally to Beaon's Closet. You get rid of the clothes, get some $$$, and can then take those $$$ and donate them.

flute · September 2005

I get your point. No need to belabour it.

anonymous · September 2005

i would think that a lot of folks down there would be in need of clothing, since so many left their homes with nothing, although i'm unable to find any specific charities seeking clothing. here's a good list on nytimes of some releif-related donation options

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/30/national/hurricane-resources.html?ex=1141099200&en=69d89047c73c778a&ei=5087

flute · September 2005

https://www.swern.gov/index.php

This site allows you to register whatever "resources" you have (including clothing) ...

flute · September 2005

btw ... thanks, iamanalog

pitu · September 2005

I saw on the enws today that NYC/NYPD is sending confiscated conterfeit clothes to Katrina victims - meaning, the fake Hilfiger that didn't make it to Canal St is going south...

There used to be a women's shelter in Crown Heights that accepted direct donations. Act locally if you want to make that kind of direct donation! You can find them in the phone book . . .

pitu · September 2005

And if you're looking for where to donate to local, grassroots, low-income & people of color-led relief efforts down South...
Here's a website list-in-formation of places to donate & help:

http://www.sparkplugfoundation.org/katrinarelief.html

anonymous · September 2005

I saw this on another list serve...for those interested in donating clothing

Council Member Letitia James is accepting supplies that will be brought to the affected areas on Friday. Please help by bringing toiletries such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, razors, sanitary products, diapers etc. as well as new socks and underwear of all sizes including kids. Used clothing can also be donated. Please bring supplies to 67 Hanson Place before the end of the day on Thursday September 8th.

Below is information on a service being offered to people trying to find out about friends and relatives. Thank you.

Kate Suisman

Office of Council Member Letitia James
67 Hanson Place, ground floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718 260 9191

stacey · September 2005

If you go to Only The Blog Knows Brooklyn (there is a link on the DH main page) someone has actually contacted some refugee places in Texas and NO who have specifically requested some basic items (diapers, socks, formula, etc.). There are also phone numbers to these places where you can call and ask them directly.

anonymous · September 2005

I've sent money from the Red Cross, will do so again when my bank account fills up and am waiting a few weeks for the grassroots to get organized to send money and clothing and other items. It's likely that a lot of organizations are overwhelmed and the victims of the hurricane are likely to be relocated to more permanent shelters, so I'm hesitant to send clothes just yet.

I'm a member of the Junior League of Brooklyn and am waiting to see what the Junior Leagues of San Antonio and Houston will be doing. The Junior Leagues are women's volunteer organizations, which develop their own volunteer projects to address overlooked needs in their communities.

Since they are staffed by mostly volunteers, the Leagues have very little overhead. 100% of the money donated to the Leagues to help the survivors will go to the survivors.

I'll post when I get more information.

flute · September 2005

I thought there was some interesting information in this e-mail from Chris Owens. I am posting it because it has a list of organizations that may elude most peoples' radar but that will accept and distribute various types of aid and charity to Katrina victims.
---------------------

Dear Friends,
Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath pose a great challenge to our nation and ourselves. My father and his family came from Mississippi and Memphis and we, like everyone else, are saddened and most definitely outraged by the events of this past week. We hope that every person will do what they can to provide aid.

Here in New York, a friend of mine, Kevin Powell, has put together an important benefit event this Thursday, September 8, from 7 pm to 11 pm, at The Canal Room, 285 West Broadway (Canal Street) in lower Manhattan. To RSVP, please contact [email protected]. You must be at least age 21 and have a form of identification. Admission is FREE (cash bar all night) but you MUST bring an item for the victims of Hurricane Katrina as set forth below; monetary donations will NOT be taken at this event.

Items will be loaded onto a big truck in front of CANAL ROOM and driven directly to Claiborne County Health Center in Port Gibson, Mississippi, run by Dr. Demitri Marshall. It is in a position to get these items directly to people in need. PLEASE make sure clothing and shoes and sneakers are new OR clean and in good condition:

Air mattresses, aspirin, baby aspirin, baby food, baby wipes, band aids, batteries, blankets, books for adults or children, coloring books, crayons, candles, cleaning supplies, clothing, cotton balls or swabs, diapers, flashlights, garbage bags, gasoline gift cards, hydrogen peroxide BUT NOT rubbing alcohol (flammable), magazines, plastic utensils, pillows and pillow cases, radios - portable with batteries, razors - male and female, sanitary napkins or tampons, shaving cream, sheets, shoes, sneakers, soap, socks, toilet paper, toothbrushes and toothpaste, vitamins, water (bottles)

If you are placing donated items in a bag PLEASE LABEL them. For example, "Children shoes" or "Adult shoes," "Children clothes" or "Adult clothes."

Kevin Powell has also organized the following actions that you can take to help Katrina victims:

For those who wish to make monetary donations, please send funds to these outlets. These have been confirmed by Kevin and are REALLY delivering services to folks in need right now:

BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund
PO Box 803209, Dallas, TX 75240
www.blackamericaweb.com/relief
This fund has been set up by nationally syndicated radio personality TOM JOYNER.

The NAACP is setting up command centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as part of its disaster relief efforts. Also, the NAACP has established a disaster relief fund to accept monetary donations to aid in the relief effort.

Checks can be sent to the NAACP payable to:
NAACP Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund
4805 Mt. Hope Drive, Baltimore, MD 21215
Donations can also be made online at www.naacp.org/disaster/contribute.php

Team Rescue has been set up by native New Orleans rapper Master P and his wife, Sonya Miller. www.teamrescueone.com

Noahs Wish is connecting hurricane victims with their pets and conducting emergency animal rescues. www.noahswish.org

Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is providing services and shelter to the many women who were in shelters for battered women and have had to flee. www.lcadvhrf.org

You can mail or ship non-perishable items to the following locations, which Kevin has confirmed are REALLY delivering services to folks in need:

Center for Life Outreach Center
121 Saint Landry Street, Lafayette, LA 70506
Attn: Minister Pamela Robinson
337-504-5374

Mohammad Mosque 65
2600 Plank Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70805
Attn: Minister Andrew Muhammad 225-923-1400
225-357-3079

Lewis Temple CME Church
272 Medgar Evers Street, Grambling, LA 71245
Attn: Rev. Dr. Ricky Helton
318-247-3793

St. Luke Community United Methodist Church
c/o Hurricane Katrina Victims
5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway, Dallas, TX 75223
Attn: Pastor Tom Waitschies
214-821-2970

S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
3815 Live Oak, Houston, Texas 77004
Attn: Deloyd Parker
713-521-0641

Sincerely,

Chris Owens

Katrina Clothing Donations

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