YOU’RE COVERED

Austintown church to host its 2nd clothing giveaway

The first drive was so successful that the church is sponsoring a second giveaway.

AUSTINTOWN — Members of Crossroads Church have ditched their Sunday suits and dresses and replaced them with piles of clothes for those in need.

More than 100,000 articles of clothing have been placed on more than 50 tables in the church’s auditorium. Crossroads will have a clothing giveaway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the auditorium of the church at 554 Meridian Road.

This is the second such giveaway sponsored by the church. The first giveaway was in the social hall, but the amount of donations forced the church to have the second one in its large auditorium.

All of the clothing must be gone before Sunday’s services in the room, church members said, and any remaining clothes will be donated to charity.

Volunteer Gail Carino said the same rules apply to this giveaway as the first.

“Your requirement is: If you wear clothes, you qualify,” she said.

The church has been accepting donations since August, when it had its last giveaway. Carino said the response to the first giveaway was so great that the church opted to do it again.

“There are people who are working and do have money, but they are barely getting by,” Carino said. “Clothing your family is just another expense.”

Carino said many people have cleaned out their closets for the giveaway, and some local businesses have even donated new clothing. Anything from shoes, winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, jeans and T-shirts are available for newborns to senior citizens.

If you need it, Carino said, you can have it.

But she added, “If you truly don’t need it, someone else will. So leave it for the person who does.”

Despite a successful drive this summer — the church gave away more than 10,000 pieces of clothing then — there is still need.

“So many families come in, and they are hurting,” said organizer Cheryl Balciar. “They may be saying, ‘Do I buy medicine, school supplies, groceries or clothing?’ And that’s what we as a church are about: reaching out, connecting and serving.”

Carino said the last giveaway was supposed to last for four hours, but the church ran out of clothes within two hours. She said she hopes a similar situation happens Saturday.

Similar to August’s giveaway, church members will be present to provide assistance to those who may need it. They won’t, however, try to push any type of belief or try to sway religious opinions.

Balciar said the gesture by the public proves the giving spirit is still alive, despite a bad economy.

“There are still people who will help you and won’t looking for anything in return,” Carino said.

jmoffett@vindy.com

p>IF YOU GO

Crossroads Church

The church will have a clothing giveaway. People are encouraged to come in and take items as needed with no questions asked.

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Crossroads Church, 554 Meridian Road, Austintown

Contact: (330) 799-9988