Church Plans Major Clothing Giveaway for Families in Need

Although food is typically thought of first when families who are struggling financially come to mind, clothing is another item no one can do without.

Mountainview Moravian Church in Hellertown, under the leadership of Rev. Jodie Lean Harney, recently recognized there was a need for clothing donations to aid Saucon Valley families—and volunteers organized to do something about it.

The church is planning to hold a major clothing distribution for local families in need Saturday and Monday, with gently-used clothing for men, women and children available in a wide variety of sizes.

As Harney explained recently, the clothes were collected by churches from throughout the Lehigh Valley over a period of months.

Volunteers then spent hundreds of hours cleaning and sorting the clothes, which now fill up rooms at the church.

Harney said the idea for the clothing distribution originated with a Moravian congregation in Staten Island, N.Y.

That church distributes clothing every year, and in the wake of the tremendous need caused by Hurricane Sandy, Mountainview members thought "we could do this in Hellertown," Harney said.

There's also a greater need for donated clothing in the Saucon Valley than many people realize, she said, echoing a sentiment recently shared by New Jerusalem Food Bank officials.

The distribution at Mountainview is meant to be a helping hand rather than a handout, Harney stressed. 

It will also be a "no questions asked" event, meaning proof of financial need or residency won't be required in order to participate.

"It's not just for food bank clients—it's for anyone who needs help," she emphasized. "We're trying to live out the mission of helping."

What each family is allowed to take will depend on the final inventory on hand, and some donated school supplies may also be available, Harney said.

The first distribution will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, with volunteer personal shoppers on hand to help participants navigate the racks and stay organized.

A second distribution will be held Monday.

Any clothing that remains after Saturday will most likely be stored so the church can distribute it in case of an emergency.

Mountainview Moravian Church is located at 331 Constitution Ave., Hellertown.

For more information about the clothing distribution, call the church office at 610-838-9344.