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ABC Clothing Sale Donates $20,000 to Five Local Charities
02:44PM / Wednesday, October 28, 2015
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The ABC Clothing Sale Steering Committee is distributing $20,000 in unrestricted grants from the proceeds of the annual ABC Clothing Sale on Sept. 26 to five local organizations.

“ABC” stands for “A Better Community,” echoing the sale’s commitment to recycling clothing and household linens, and their mission to benefit local charitable organizations that serve at-risk families and youth and address hunger, poverty and inequality in Northern Berkshire communities.

Each October the Steering Committee - in collaboration with the Outreach Ministry Team of the First Congregational Church of Williamstown, which has a long history of supporting and housing ABC’s sales and sorting operations - will select different local organizations whose work aligns with the ABC Clothing Sale’s mission statement to receive grants.

This year the money will be distributed between the following five organizations, to support their work in the communities of Northern Berkshire:

• Barrington Stage Company Playwright Mentoring Project in North Adams is an intensive, six-month, out-of-school activity that that uses theatre as a catalyst to help addresses the complex needs of at-risk youth, ages 13-19. Under the guidance of professional staff, participants create an original performance piece based on their own stories in an environment where they can freely express themselves while developing conflict resolution skills.

• Child Care of the Berkshires’ mission is to strengthen families through the provision of high quality child care, education, support services and advocacy. The agency strives to give all parents of young children the support they need to help them grow and develop within a healthy family and a healthy community.

• Family Life Support Center Inc./Louison House  provides transitional and permanent housing solutions and food for the homeless. Funds from this grant will be put to excellent use, specifically toward capital improvements at Louison House which is 125 years old and requires a significant amount of facility attention.

• Northern Berkshire Community Coalition Youth Basketball Program engages more than 100 boys and girls, aged 8 to 16, who may not otherwise have access to such activities, in neighborhood-based basketball programs that encourage health and fitness, teach communication skills and team work, and bring families and communities together in a positive way.  

• Williamstown Food Pantry distributes food and other household necessities to around four hundred families, most residing in Williamstown. This all-volunteer located at the Yoked Parishes of St. Patrick and St. Raphael is open for distribution two afternoons per month and responds to emergency calls from the police, schools, doctors, and concerned neighbors.

In addition, throughout the year the ABC Clothing Sale has donated hundreds of pounds of clothing and bedding to the Berkshire Immigrant Center, Soldier On, Haiti Plunge, Goodwill Industries, and a village in Malawi.

This is the first year that the proceeds from the sale have not gone to the Greylock Chapter of A Better Chance, which is currently in the process of reorganizing.

Collecting, sorting, and preparing clothing and linens for sale is a year-round operation, and volunteers are always needed and welcome. E-mail abcclothingsale@gmail.com for more information; and check Facebook for updates.

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