Demand for coats, rainwear, boots and shoes at the Central Church of Christ clothing recycling site has totally cleared out the storage closets, leaving only a diminished assortment of items now hanging on the display racks, one of the congregation’s deacons has reported.
“On the first day of winter, we’re faced with a thin margin of supply and the expected upswing in the number of adults and children needing this assistance,” Percy Phifer explained to Central members at the beginning of morning worship services Sunday. “Please think about taking a few minutes during this holiday week to check your closets at home and see if there is anything you can donate. This would be a good time to create a little more space in your wardrobe.”
“We can use all kinds of coats and winter clothing, including shoes and boots, for men and women, boys and girls, of all ages,” Phifer said. “We all have fully usable things in our closets we haven’t worn in years. Why not share those blessings with our less-fortunate neighbors?”
Donations of re-usable clothing may be left under the drive-thru canopy on the east side of the church building just off North Spring Street.  For information, call the church office at 473-6537.
Central’s benevolence center also provides emergency food supplements to families and individuals in need. So far in 2014 the center has distributed 420 boxes of food, each containing 30-35 pounds of non-perishable groceries. In the same period, Central’s recycling center, located on Morford Street with access from the church parking lot, supplied clothing to 2,503 adults and 1,539 children, Phifer noted in his report to the congregation.