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OUR VIEW: Worthy cause: Phylllis Zumkehr Clothing Center needs financial help to pay its bills

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July 1, 2009

Those looking for a worthy cause to support should consider the Phyllis Zumkehr Clothing Center as a sound charitable investment for any donations they care to make.

The center opened in 1996 as a Catholic Charities program and is now part of Family & Community Services. It accepts clothing from those seeking to let go of what they no longer wear or have a use for and then recycles it by letting those in need to take the clothing free of charge right off the racks.

The center, formerly known as the Portage County Clothing Center, changed its name because of a large gift from Attorney Charles Zumkehr in the memory of his deceased wife. With only one paid employee, the center is staffed by approximately 400 volunteers, many of whom come from churches throughout Portage County that have adopted the cause of recycling clothing to those who cannot afford to clothe themselves.

The United Way of Portage County supports the center, which located on S.R. 59 in Ravenna Township. It also receives support from the Portage County Solid Waste Management District because it keeps clothing that might end up in landfills in circulation. It is estimated that last year 230 tons of clothing were donated to the center that might have otherwise ended up in a landfill. That clothing is helping an estimated 3,500 clients per month.

Even with the support of volunteers and the United Way and the Waste Management District, the center is not able to meet all its costs. Utilities keep rising. The small payroll, maintenance and other operational costs are not going away.

Donation checks should be made to the Phyllis Zumkehr Clothing Center, 3377 S.R. 59, Ravenna, OH 44266.




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    Posted by ronnycycle1 July 5, 2009
A very worthy cause that I urge all to support.

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