Clothing bank needs volunteers to keep doors open

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, October 21, 2015

The Kent Area Council PTA clothing bank, which serves hundreds of families each year, may be closing in December unless volunteers step up to keep it open.

Jan Bigbee-Hansen and Brooke Valentine, who have co-chaired the clothing bank for four and five years respectively, have been searching for leaders to coordinate the effort for the past year, but so far haven’t found anyone willing to take over.

If no one takes over the project, the clothing bank, which is typically open two Tuesday evenings a month in the former locker room at Kent Phoenix Academy, will be open for the last time on Dec. 15.

“We will help advise, but we aren’t going to run it anymore,” Bigbee-Hansen said.

Coordinating the clothing bank requires about a 20-hour commitment each month and can be shared by two people, Bigbee-Hansen said.

“It is a fairly labor intensive position,” she said. “Two people sharing it would be a great idea.”

Responsibilities of the chair or co-chairs include setup and cleanup on the clothing bank’s open evenings twice a month; reporting to the Kent Area Council board and general meetings monthly; responding to emails about the clothing bank; coordinating volunteers; and managing the donation bins when school is not in session.

“We need somebody with the energy and vision to keep it going and take it to the next level,” Bigbee-Hansen said.

The clothing bank provides gently used clothes free of charge, as well as new underwear and socks, to children in the Kent School District and their younger siblings who are referred through their school or a community agency. The clothing bank has been helping families for more than 20 years.

“Given the level of need within the Kent community, it has been a very well used support service,” Bigbee-Hansen said.

In the 2008-2009 school year, the clothing bank served 680 children from 202 families. Last year, 1,263 children from 680 families were served.

Bigbee-Hansen hopes new leaders will help keep the clothing bank open.

“I don’t know where those families are going to go,” she said.

Kathleen Whalen, who made her first visit to the clothing bank on Tuesday evening, appreciated what the clothing bank provided.

“It’s awesome,” Whalen said. “It’s the first time I have ever been to one. We got some decent coats for winter.”

Although it takes a lot of work, Bigbee-Hansen said helping the community is rewarding.

“The families are so grateful,” she said. “It is nice to help families find things they need for their kids.”

Valentine said the clothing bank is all about helping families in the school district.

“I just think about the sacrifices parents and families make for their children,” she said.

The clothing bank will be open from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 3 and 17 and Dec. 1 and 15 at Kent Phoenix Academy, 11000 SE 264th St. Check in begins at 5:15 p.m.

For more information about the clothing bank, visit http://kacpta.org/or email clothingbank@kacpta.org.