WEST MIDDLESEX

Grace ministry helps clothe Valley’s needy

In an effort to help their neighbors, members of Grace in the Wilderness Church, West Middlesex, host a clothing ministry to provide free clothing, toys and even jewelry to community members.

"We started because we felt there was a need to clothe the poor and the needy," church member and ministry organizer Debbie Kouch said.

The second Tuesday of every month, the church fills up billiard, fooseball, Ping-Pong and long cafeteria-style tables with rows of neatly folded clothing in its youth center, attached to the church.

There are shorts, khakis, socks and blouses still with price tags attached next to faded but clean T-shirts. A bar off the kitchenette area hosts costume jewelry and dresses. Coats and jackets hang from mobile wardrobes.

Stuffed bears, plastic toys and all sizes and styles of shoes line the floor of the room. Coffee and mints are available on a small corner table. But no where will customers see a cash register or a suggested price. All items are free to the public, although small signs on tables declare that donations are greatly appreciated.

Mrs. Kouch said the ministry allows the congregation to honor God’s commandment to help others.

Fellow ministry worker Diane Cardin said the ministry’s growth has been fast during the last year, but members are eager for more people to take advantage of it.

"The first time we opened, we had one person the whole day," she said. "It’s really catching on. We go through so much clothing in a month."

Now about 30 to 50 people trickle into the small center the second Tuesday of every month. Many of the customers are members of the congregation who use the time for fellowship, but Ms. Kouch is quick to say everyone is welcome.

Though the center is packed with clothes at the beginning of the ministry, which runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., supplies dwindle quickly.

Children’s clothing goes first, although adult, plus sizes and shoes are needed, Ms. Cardin said.

The ministry accepts donations of clean used or new clothing as well as money.

"If someone has a yard sale and has a lot of clothes left over, we’d love to pick those up," Ms. Cardin said.

The ministry also is open to help from community volunteers, Mrs. Kouch said.

And children are welcome. As the women run the ministry, their children or grandchildren play all around them.

Mrs. Kouch said the church wants to make the ministry on-going throughout every week, but the lack of space prevents them from expanding.

So for now members spend close to four hours setting the ministry up and another four hours closing it down for each ministry.

But poignant experiences make it worthwhile, Mrs. Kouch said, adding the ministry was able to assist a Hubbard family that lost everything in a house fire at Christmas time last year.

When Mrs. Kouch heard of their loss on the evening news, she called the woman to tell her about the ministry.

"My heart just broke for that poor woman," Mrs. Kouch said.

Though the family was being assisted by other organizations like the Red Cross, they still didn’t have clothing and the children didn’t have any toys.

To aid families in crisis, church members have given fliers to local fire companies advertising the ministry and its emergency numbers.

Ms. Cardin said she was surprised at the number of families with desperate need in the valley.

"We’ve had people come in there that maybe have the clothes on their back and that’s it," Ms. Cardin said.

The next Treasures of Grace Clothing Ministry will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 11 at Grace in the Wilderness Fellowship Church’s youth center.

Information: Ms. Kouch at 528-1057 or Ms. Cardin at 646-3177.