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‘Neighbors helping neighbors’

Clothing collection drive begins fourth year

Danielle Chicano Abington Journal Intern

Georgette Stancavage is calling on the help of her community to eradicate poverty in the area through Kidz Klozet, a clothing collection drive, which is in its fourth year.

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Georgette Stancavage, left, accepts clothing in 2008 from Waverly Elementary School first grade class students Kalei Carpenter, Harrison Fedor and their teacher Sara Kasper.

Abington Journal File Photo/Don McGlynn

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Families and local children are asked to donate new and gently used coats, clothes and shoes for the drive, which be held at Our Lady of the Abingtons Parish in Dalton on Friday, Nov. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Members of the community and high school students who need community service hours, are also invited to help with folding and sorting clothes beginning Nov. 9 between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to Stancavage, she began the drive in 2005 as a way to help flood victims in Tunkhannock and it has grown into something much bigger since.

“It kind of evolved on its own to help families in the area who are struggling, and the economy just happened to coincide so that made the demand for this service even greater (this year).”

Stancavage is hoping people will come to realize that there are struggling families in the area who can be helped. She calls it “neighbors helping neighbors” and gives everyone the opportunity to reach out to someone in need.

Stancavage said putting together the drive takes lot of hard work and dedication but in the end is well worth the team effort. Last year they clothed more than 150 families from Scranton to the Binghamton, N.Y. border and she hopes to continue with the endeavor.

“I’ve had families who tell me that they could not clothe their children without our help.”

Newborn and teen clothing donations are sent in from various schools around the area that have drop-off sites. Waverly Elementary School, Keystone College Children’s Center, Bright Beginnings Preschool in Dalton, Our Lady of Peace School in Clarks Green, Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center in Factoryville and UTA Karate School in Dalton are among some of the contributors this year. Donations can be dropped off during mass or at any of the donation sites.

The team of volunteers works with a budget of $50, which they spend mostly on advertising for the cause. They are always looking for volunteers and clothing donations in order to make the event more of a success.

Stancavage wants families in need to know that this clothing drive is not a handout; it is done out of neighborly kinship. Kidz Klozet does not ask for financial checks and those in need to have to apply to be qualified to attend.

“(Kidz Klozet) is not done like a charity, not done like a handout, it is done with dignity,” said Stancavage. “Clothes are washed and laid out according to size and sex, almost like a store.”

She realizes that people may get discouraged if they have to rummage through clothes. Stancavage assures that she has a wonderful team of volunteers available during the drive to assist the families and children.

“Hopefully every child walks out with some warm clothes and a coat and a pair of shoes,” said Stancavage “That’s our goal—to put an end to poverty and start binding communities together.”

For more information about the clothing drive or to get involved in this community effort call 570.563.1622.