Statewide Winter Outerwear Clothing Drive

The Trenton based nonprofit Homeless To Independence is conducting their 4th Annual Statewide Winter Outerwear Clothing Drive. Although collection activities ended in north Jersey about November 15, clothing collection efforts continue in central and southern New Jersey through December 13.

The information about their clothing drive is contained in their November newsletter which reads as follows:

Hello Everyone In New Jersey!

HOMELESS TO INDEPENDENCE’S 4TH ANNUAL WINTER OUTERWEAR CLOTHING DRIVE
IS NOW ON!!! WE NEED CHILDRENS COATS OF ALL SIZES!!!

We are collecting coats/jackets, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens and blankets for women, children and men that are homeless, working poor, our veterans and those have just lost their belongings due to fires (manmade) and natural disasters and have been transplanted here in New Jersey. Our Northern New Jersey dates run from now through November 15th. Our Central and Southern New Jersey dates run now through December 13th – anywhere in the State of New Jersey call me for your items to be picked up. Some counties will offer drop off location dates and times also for your convenience. Please call me at: 1-609-575-8048 or email me at: ann@homelesstoindependence.org. ALL items will be given away freely – we DO NOT charge anyone for anything that is donated. Any houses of worship or organizations that would like to make your location either a drop off or distribution site contact me ASAP! Let’s work together!!!

For those not familiar with Homeless To Independence let me give you a brief rundown. The Founder and Executive Director is Ann Martin-Frey. I became aware of her work several years ago when I read a newsarticle somewhere. A recent Trenton Times article (October 2, 2009 by Matt Fair, Staff Writer) provided the following: “With Homeless to Independence, Frey, 48, works day-in and day-out through a thickly woven network of contacts developed over the course of her life on the road gathering information on employment agencies, local job openings, government programs, food banks, shelters, or any other resources the homeless can take advantage of, and disseminating it all into the homeless community.”

Ann is a true grassroots activist and my hat goes off to her. If you want to contribute to the winter clothing drive you can contact her at 609-575-8048. Homeless to Independence can also be reached at PO Box 22124, Trenton, NJ 08607. Checkout the website which has the feel of a community bulletin board. You can also join her on Facebook by looking for Ann MartinFrey.