Charity asking for supplies and non-perishable food
The Giving Closet has been closed for more than a month now due to the coronavirus pandemic, but volunteers at The Giving Closet are still thinking of ways to serve.
The charity will be holding a Drive and Drop event, asking for donations of supplies and non-perishable food.
Donations can be taken to the parking lot at Vancouver Church, 3300 NE 78th Street in Vancouver from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 5, 6, and 7.
The hope is to fill The Giving Closet’s truck with items such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, bar soap, shampoo, pancake mix, syrup, peanut butter, flavored rice, pasta boxes, and the like.
The Giving Closet shopping center full of supplies remains closed. The plan is to take donations from next week’s Drive and Drop and give them to those in need later in May. There will be a drive-through only service, outside of The Giving Closet’s doors on May 13-14, May 20-21, and May 27-28. Go to the charity’s website for more details: http://givingcloset.org/
“We want to start helping our neighbors, our community,” said Rev. Denise Currie, the executive director and founder of The Giving Closet. “It’s been hard not to be open because I know there is a lot of need out there. The food is going to help in a small way.”
The Giving Closet is also known for the clothing it provides. Its shop is full of clothing now. However, The Giving Closet is not accepting donations of clothing during the pandemic.
The plan is for The Giving Closet to open again in early June to allow those in need to get clothes, as well. In the first month, the idea would be to bring the clothes outside, allowing for a few shoppers at a time.
“We’re going to make sure we’re safe. We’re going to allow only so many racks out at a time,” Currie said.
Again, the June reopening is not definite yet. But if allowed, The Giving Closet will be open Wednesdays and Thursdays for shopping. Check the website for specific hours based on a shopper’s last name.
The Giving Closet’s mission is to help people get a fresh start. The charity wants to “touch the lives of the hurting, homeless, and hungry,” according to its website.
Under normal operations, shoppers can go through a 9,000-square-foot store that is supplied with clothing, toiletries, emergency food, and household items, as well as toys and books.
The Giving Closet started in 2000 in the basement of Vancouver Church. It has since moved into its current facility at 2804 A NE 65th Ave. in Vancouver.
