NEW HAVEN – People arrived at New Haven City Hall on Sunday afternoon carrying bags of clothing to fill a new container in the government center's parking lot – a Clothes for Joes donation box.
Mayor Steve McMichael was among the first to contribute to the nonprofit, which provides clothing to military veterans. He shoved a winter coat into the bin.
“Let's fill this box,” he said.
Clothes for Joes is an organization that began almost five years ago after a military veteran approached Matt Cobb about hosting a coat drive at his restaurant.
Other Allen County collection sites are in Fort Wayne: Texas Roadhouse and Clothes for Joes, which is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays at 2410 Fairfield Ave.
“It's a hidden gem in our community that hardly anyone knows about,” said Steve Kennedy, volunteer veterans service coordinator for New Haven.
People packed the City Council chambers for the collection bin's formal dedication and piled their contributions next to the podium.
“Thank you tremendously for the support,” said Cobb, the nonprofit's founder.
Hats, gloves and coats are especially needed during the winter, and new and packaged socks and underwear are appreciated, Cobb said. Items for both genders are accepted, he said, but there is less demand for women's clothing.
The bin in New Haven is more than a collection box, McMichael said.
“It provides hope,” he said. “Hope of keeping warm. Hope of clothing to wear to a job interview or an event. Hope for an even better future.”
McMichael described the box as just the first of New Haven's upcoming programs to assist veterans. The city hopes to collect 500 ponchos this year for Invisible Vets, a nonprofit that supports homeless military veterans, he said.
“As citizens, it's our responsibility to give them the help that we can,” said Jim Garigen, founder of Invisible Vets. “When somebody does this and says, 'I pledge to support and defend,' they have no idea what they're signing up for, and they are committing their life for what we wake up to every single day.”
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January 27, 2020 at 01:08PM
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