CHENEY – The Community Clothing Exchange is in somewhat of a unique position compared with other area non-profit organizations.
Instead of needing donations, Exchange Director Connie Oakes and her volunteers want people to know they are well stocked, open and ready to help out those in need. That said, Oakes adds they are also always ready to receive clothing that is new or used, cleaned and in good condition.
“We’ll never turn them down,” volunteer Jeanie Williams said.
Williams, Oakes and volunteer Clara Brimlow were busy on Monday putting what was left of summer and fall clothes away and replacing them with winter and Christmas clothing. Currently, blankets are a popular item, as are sleeping bags, which the Exchange doesn’t display but will provide if people ask for them.
The past two Wednesdays, the Exchange saw a total of 98 adults come and sign up to receive clothing, something which carries no financial or other requirements. Oakes said 48 is about average, and doesn’t include adults who come with children. She added she anticipates that number to increase.
“When we put out our winter stock, that’s when the numbers go up,” Oakes said. “Also in the fall when kids go back to school, that’s when we see a lot of people come in.”
Oakes has been with the exchange since volunteering there in 1993. At the time, her family experienced a fire that left them living out of a camper with only the bare necessities.
Volunteering at the Exchange became a regular part of Oakes life. When it closed following the record-shattering snowstorms of 2008-2009 that damaged the Wren Pierson Community Center it was located in, Oakes met with local church leaders to get the program restored.
The Clothing Exchange recently revamped its mission statement due to its status now as a 501 (c) 3 organization, stating that it “distributes clean and quality clothing, bedding, toys, books and other small household items depending solely on donations that come from area Christian churches, Cheney schools, EWU, first responders and others in the community.” As an example of this generosity, Oakes pointed to a mountain of several dozen white, garbage bags piled in one corner recently brought in by a family that holds an annual neighborhood clothing drive for the Exchange.
“We have everything we need, when we need it,” Oakes said.
Brimlow said the Exchange carries men’s, women’s and children’s clothes in just about every size, including clothes for larger-sized individuals. What they do tend to run out of are men’s jeans and men’s socks.
“Those are our two weakest areas,” Williams added.
Brimlow started volunteering about four years ago, saying she just came in one day “and was stuck.” Williams began two years ago, first hearing about it while working out on a treadmill next to Brimlow at a gym the two frequent.
“She said they could use a third person and I said I would pray about it,” Williams said. “I did and came in the next day (to volunteer).”
While not affiliated, Oakes said they work with Cheney Outreach and the Cheney Food Bank, which are both located next door and two doors down respectively. The Exchange will get homeless individuals stopping by at times, and when they do they always refer them to the other two organizations for additional assistance.
Brimlow related a story of a college-aged young man who stopped by the Exchange a couple weeks ago with several boxes of canned food. He wanted to drop the boxes off at the Food Bank, but couldn’t because it was closed, so he asked the volunteers if they would take and deliver them when it re-opened.
Brimlow said the man told them he had been a regular user of the Food Bank at one time, but no longer and wanted to reciprocate their kindness.
“He was paying it back,” she said. “It really warmed my heart.”
The Cheney Community Clothing Exchange is open every Wednesday from noon – 6 p.m. and the last Monday of the month from 4 – 7 p.m. It is located at 620 3rd St.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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