GREENE – “I might have to call in tomorrow,” laughed Greene Community Clothing Bank Volunteer Jean Rhodes, as she and the non-profit community group’s co-founder, Janet Kozisky stood at the window on Tuesday. Their eyes were fixed on silver van parked below, emblazoned with the Chenango Carpet and Furniture logo.
It wasn’t carpet or furniture being unloaded from the back of the vehicle, however, but bag after bag of donated clothing. More than 5,000 pieces of clothing, as a matter of fact. All of which were collected at the Greene High School during a 5-day clothing drive orchestrated by students involved with Interact, a student service organization affiliated with Rotary International.
According to Rhodes, it is the largest donation of clothing the organization has received since it was founded in 2007.
“We are so appreciative,” said Kozisky, who started the non-profit with the help of Greene resident Ginny Austin after recognizing the need in the community following the 2006 floods.
The pair began their efforts at the Highland Park Church, but quickly outgrew their allotted space. In April of 2008, they relocated to their present location, above the Village of Greene offices at 49 Genesee Street in Greene. The village donates the space, which once housed the municipality’s Fire Department.
Staffed entirely by volunteers and filled by donations, the clothing bank offers garments in all shapes and sizes as well as a limited amount of other items like children’s toys and books. There is no checkout counter, and the only cash accepted is by way of donations.
High School Counselor Matt Butler, who serves as Interact’s advisor, credited the idea for the clothing drive to the club’s president, Senior George Flanaghan.
“He came in my office in December and said he wanted to do one big project before he graduated,” Butler explained. After careful deliberation, they decided to direct their efforts toward helping the community clothing bank.
“We wanted to give back to our community,” explained Senior Ethan Buhl, who also serves as an officer in the student organization. And since, as the senior explained, “everyone has extra clothes,” no one had to go out and buy something in order to support the cause. They just had to clean out their closets.
