The Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Community Outreach Council has collected winter-related clothing items for those in need for the last four years. This year, the group decided to expand its efforts to include new and gently used men’s, women’s and children’s clothing during its recent collection to meet the growing needs of the Lancaster community.
“Our drive was four weeks long, and we did not set a goal going into it. However, by the end of the first week, we received more than 600 pounds of clothing,” shared Barbara Schmidt, RN, BSN,
Women & Babies Hospital Couplet Care Unit. “We were then hopeful that we would be able to collect 2,000 pounds, or one ton, of clothing during the donation period.”
To the Council’s surprise, employees throughout the health system donated more than two tons (4,150 pounds) of clothing.
The clothing items were donated to the clothing bank at the Lancaster County Food Hub in Lancaster City, the largest free clothing distributor in the Lancaster community. After donation, volunteers sort and organize the clothes based on size and gender. Then individuals who demonstrate need can shop for free clothes once every 60 days.
“I’m so thrilled with the overwhelming response by our LG Health family. The Council would like to thank them a double ton,” Schmidt said.