Thanksgiving Clothing Drives in Saginaw and Elsewhere

Thanksgiving clothing drives are not a particular occasion in and around Saginaw, Michigan, because poverty here is so widespread that the need is year-round. However, Thanksgiving and Christmas represent the time of year when the most people consider charity.

So, with this article, let's go ahead and start an official Thanksgiving clothing drive, not just in Saginaw but wherever you the reader may live. If you can find some items to contribute to a Thanksgiving clothing drive, fantastic. If you can speak with someone else who will do the same, then you have doubled your impact. And so on, and so forth, like a chain letter. A successful Thanksgiving clothing drive will embody this sort of multiplier effect.

In Saginaw, this article will identify the main places where people can donate clothing. However, the list most definitely is not all-inclusive. Countless churches conduct their own Thanksgiving clothing drives or Christmas clothing drives, for example.

Also Give Food, Appliances, Furniture

Please keep in mind that needs go beyond clothing. We also may participate in canned food drives, for which "canned" in effect means "non-perishable." Something I've learned that is really interesting, is that if we give cash money to one of the major food providers such as Second Harvest, they can stretch the cash. Leaders of the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan say that for every $1 donated, they can assemble $14 worth of food. This is because they make deals with wholesalers and warehouses. In effect, I can buy two cans of beans and give them to the food bank, and of course they will appreciate this, but if I just go ahead and give them the $1 bill, they can do even more. That's something to keep in mind.

Finally, your old furniture, and your used and even broken appliances down in the basement, even toys and books, can make a world of difference for a family in need. In Saginaw, at Gleaning for Jesus, my personal hero Leslie Bacon "gleans" these items and uses them "to turn a house into a home" for young families. A good place to contact in your own local community is Goodwill Industries, which operates second-hand stores that employ people with disabilities. Therefore, the appliance or furniture (or clothing) you contribute will be put to use, plus you are helping to maintain employment during these difficult economic times.

The Salvation Army is another source that operates thrift stores. In fact, if you want to do something neat, volunteer to be a bell-ringer for a day. I did this once, and it was a real hoot to get the coins in the kettle.

Saginaw Sources for Holiday Giving

With that, following is our Saginaw listing for our Thanksgiving clothing (and food and furniture and appliance and toy and book) drives. All phone numbers are 989 area code. To my sister and fellow AC Producers, please consider submitting a similar list for where you live:

-- Gleaning for Jesus, 517 North Hamilton, 754-6706. (Call and ask for Mother Teresa, even if you're from out of state. A few calls like this would give my friend Leslie a much-welcome chuckle.)

-- Salvation Army, 2030 North Carolina, 793-8371.

-- Goodwill Industries, 405 South Michigan, 799-4144.

-- Partnership Center, 122 South Hamilton, 793-9585.

-- Saginaw County Community Action Center (CAC), 2824 Perkins, 753-7741.

-- First Ward Community Center, 1410 North 12th, 753-0411.

-- Neighborhood House, 3145 Russell, 752-5805.

-- Houghton-Jones Neighborhood Task Force, 1708 Johnson, 752-1660.

Planet Aid: Investigate for Yourself

In closing, please note that in your community, you may see dropoff stations called "Planet Aid" that invite you to toss your used clothing into their bins. This indeed is simple, sort of like going to a fast food drive-through. However, critics have raised concerns that Planet Aid's past international leaders have been linked with fraud and embezzlement, and beyond that, your donations are not reinvested locally. You may judge for yourself by investigating on the web. To view my own article, click here.

Let's all aim for success, and for those of us who are able to share, the need is greater that at any time since the Great Depression. To give, is to receive.