By Brenda Maguire
CORRESPONDENT
NEW BRITAIN — The First Lutheran Church of the Reformation is looking for donations of men’s clothing for its year-round clothing drive, called the Clothing Rack.
The church, located at 77 Franklin Square, is looking for donations of coats, jackets, fleeces, heavy sweaters, boots, scarves, hats, mittens, sleeping bags and blankets.
“People are freezing and dying out there,” said Jen Kilps, director of congregational life at First Lutheran Church. “We have a large population of people who are sleeping outside in the winter.”
Items can be new or used and the church asks that all used items be cleaned and laundered before being donated.
There are many New Britain residents who will benefit from these donations. “The local homeless, the local urban poor and the working poor,” Kilps said.
Senior citizens and people recently released from jail also receive clothing from the drive.
The Clothing Rack is well stocked with women’s clothing at this time and is mainly focused on acquiring men’s clothing. Kilps said the men’s clothing has been coming and going quickly this fall.
“There are a lot of homeless men in New Britain,” she added.
Donations can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more information call (860) 224-2475.
Brenda Pantano 