Most people own clothing that no longer fits or is seldom, if ever, worn.
A new clothing swap event aims to distribute that clothing to people who could use it.
Dressing the Green Way will be held Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Morrisville Elementary School gymnasium.
“Our mission is to recycle quality clothing that can be utilized by families in our community,” said Tracy Patnoe, one of the event organizers.
Clean, good-quality clothing will be collected from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Patnoe is a student at the Springfield College School of Human Services, St. Johnsbury campus. She and two other local students, Mary Leikert and Matt Bouchard, came up with the idea while working on a class project.
They wanted their project to benefit the community and be sustainable. They designed it so that another group of students or community organization could take over next year.
The students learned that much of the clothing collected in donation boxes set up throughout Lamoille County is sold to companies in developing nations. They wanted donations to benefit people in their own community.
All community members can pick up clothing at the swap, regardless of their income, Patnoe said.
“We’re looking for community-wide involvement,” she said.
Patnoe will be collecting clothing at her business, Mud City Kids Child Care Center, and she’s urging area businesses to collect clothing from their employees.
She envisions it becoming an annual event like the Norwich University Clothing Drop-N-Swap, which started nearly 20 years ago and attracts participants from throughout central Vermont.
The event has been scheduled to coincide with the 13th annual Morrisville Rotary Winter Coat Drive.
“It takes place the first day that they’ll be handing out coats,” Patnoe said. “We’ll let people know about it.”
Donated coats of all sizes in good condition can be dropped off at DeNoia's Dry Cleaning in Morrisville and Stowe, where they will be cleaned free of charge through Sept. 30.
The coats will be distributed Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, Oct.19, from noon to 3 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25; from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Crosby Center at Holy Cross Church in Morrisville.
Morrisville Rotary has collected and distributed more than 11,000 coats since the program began.
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