Here's Where I Drop Off After a Good Spring Cleaning

Around Town Laura is enjoying the holiday but in the spirit of the green movement, she is recycling this column. If your holiday weekend included cleaning out the closets or if you have garage sale leftovers, read on:

When Spring Fever hits and I dive into the closets to do some cleaning, I take my bags and boxes of gently-used clothes to The Clothes Closet.  Do you know about it?  It's tucked under the bridge on Mill Street.  This is why it's my favorite place to take our donations:

• With the exception of set public shopping days, individuals have to qualify to shop at The Clothes Closet. Ebay entrepreneurs are not using your donations for their own profit.  
• The Clothes Closet serves local and nearby families in need.  You are really helping your neighbors.
• The volunteers make The Clothes Closet experience pleasant and easy for everyone. Really, they are a group of lovely ladies that are always happy to see you.
• The Clothes Closet is part of Rochester Area Neighborhood House, a service organization founded by communities of faith to help move those in need toward self-sufficiency. In addition to clothes, RANH provides eligible individuals with food, transportation, counseling and job coaching. Self-sufficiency..... I'm betting most people would welcome that any day of the week.

In addition to clothes, The Clothes Closet also accepts small household items, bedding and diapers.  Shoes of any size and children's clothing are always in particular need.  

Donations are accepted during business hours Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Clothes Closet is at 44 Mill Street.

What about those books?

Recently, I dropped off groceries at the First Congregational Helping Hands Food Pantry. While there, I noticed they have a book cart of donated, gently-used books. Food recipients are encouraged to take a book home for their children.

If your spring cleaning left you with a pile of outgrown books, please keep the book cart in mind.  The pantry accepts books for toddlers to middle-school ages. 

The church is located at 1315 Pine St.  Donations are accepted Monday through Thursday from noon to 2:30 p.m.