More donations than ever before were received from readers who contributed to the Times-Courier’s 2019 Bring a Bundle Clothing Drive. Donations collected through November and December totaled 2,463 items. Contributors were able to claim a year’s subscription to the newspaper per each bundle donated.
The donations, which included coats, jackets, shoes, socks, shirts, pants, gloves, hats and underwear, were divided between all five Gilmer County schools. This year, toiletries like shampoo and toothpaste were welcomed along with items needed for clothes closets kept by each school.
Cayla West, nurse at Clear Creek Elementary School, said the clothes closet there serves multiple purposes.
“We greatly appreciate these donations,” she added. “Our clothes closet ranges from 4T up to (larger) sizes for our fifth graders. It’s something that’s used multiple times daily. We keep everything from shirts and pants to jackets and shoes. It’s open any time and kids can come see us if they need anything. Maybe they don’t have clean clothes or their clothes aren’t fitting them properly. (It could be) a teacher has noticed they are wearing shoes with holes in them. Sometimes we see little kids who have had accidents or spills.” Todd Gearhart, assistant principal at Gilmer High School, said the high school keeps a clothes closet, as well as a food pantry, for students who need either service.
“Gilmer High School is blessed to receive donations for our food pantry and clothes closet from local businesses, churches, parents and community members,” he added. “These items serve the students of GHS in need of warm clothes, coats and shoes especially during the cold winter months. We are fortunate, this year, to also receive toiletry items and hygiene products to have available for students. We appreciate and welcome donations to ensure the needs of our students are met. “
Times-Courier Publisher Andy Ashurst thanked readers who help make each year’s Bring a Bundle drive a success.
“We are continually amazed by the generosity and giving of our readers. This year’s drive turned out better than the one last season and it is all due to our subscribers. Newspapers are supposed to engage citizens and this shows how engaged our readers are in their community,” he said.
Typesetter April Teague, who bagged and boxed the incoming donations according to size, while keeping track of a running total for each clothing category, was also amazed by the generosity shown by the local community.
“I feel blessed to be a part of our annual clothes drive. It is hard work and always well worth the time and effort when we get to the end and see the number of bags and boxes we get to deliver to the schools,” she said.