In Time for Spring Cleaning, Municipal Alliance to Hold Clothing Drive

If spring cleaning has left a mountain of unneeded clothes in your home, Manchester's Municipal Alliance will accept those items during its clothing drive fundraiser next week.

The event, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 28 and April 29, will raise money for Project Graduation, an alcohol-free night of celebration for graduating Manchester High School seniors.

"Project Graduation is really a very worthwhile cause and most of the people in Manchester are very happy to help the students of Manchester, so this is kind of an easy thing for them to do," said alliance coordinator Marianne Borthwick. "Especially this time of the year as everyone does spring cleaning. So rather than take your clothes somewhere else and drop them off, this is very convenient."

With property taxes due by the end of the month, Borthwick said that she chose these dates for the clothing drive since she expects residents to stop in the municipal complex to pay their bills in person.

"We figured this would be a good time — come in and pay your taxes and water bill, and drop off some clothes. It's a one-stop shop," she said. "That's why I set it up on these dates. We actually have lines out the doors."

Borthwick said that in addition to clothing, blankets, pillows, comforters and shoes can also be donated. The alliance will be paid a set fee per pound of clothing, Borthwick said.

"We will have a truck that we will park in a visible location in the parking lot of the municipal building," she said. 

Though residents do not receive money for their clothes, Bortwick joked that they get something even better — less clutter.

"What people get is to get rid of their clothes," she said.

This is the first year the alliance will hold a clothing drive, as Borthwick said that she was inspired by the success of a similar PTA effort.

"They did it and it was a very successful program for them, so we decided to give it a try," she said. "We're always looking for different ways of fundraising so we don't have to constantly ask for donations."

Borthwick said that five alliance volunteers are already committed to work the event.

"They're my regular volunteers from the alliance," she said.

Those who cannot attend the drive can still donate their clothing in the Reed Foundation bin located between the municipal complex and Manchester's branch of the Ocean County Library, Borthwick said.

"My bin is always there," she said. "And when that gets full, the alliance gets a check."