First Baptist Church of Westwood reopens clothing shed

Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by First Baptist Church of Westwood.

            First Baptist Church of Westwood recently announced that the used clothing donation shed located in its parking lot is once again open. Pastor Stephanie Salinas suggests that if you’ve been cleaning out your closets and drawers while you’ve been at home week after week, now is the perfect time to get those things out of your home and into the hands of people who truly need them.

            The used clothing shed is provided and maintained by St. Pauly Textile Inc.  The company was forced to temporarily close the shed several months ago because of the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and are pleased to again offer a clean, well-maintained location where the community may make donations.

            Items accepted at the shed are clothing, shoes, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, curtains, pillowcases and stuffed animals. It is important to note that all clothing should be in good condition. Donations must be placed in plastic bags to protect them from the elements and for the safety of those people maintaining the shed.

            St. Pauly is a western New Yoark-based, family-owned, for-profit company founded in 1996, and is an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau. They partner with businesses and various organizations to distribute donated items both here in the U.S. and worldwide where they are ultimately re-worn by people who need them.

            With more than 1,300 clothing drop-off sheds in place, they collect more than 90,000 pounds of clothing on a daily basis and estimate that the clothing winds up in over 40 different countries yearly. It was estimated that in 2019, the last year of full operation, the company was able to keep over 20 million articles of clothing out of landfills and helped clothe approximately 2.5 million people worldwide.

            The shed is at the far end of the parking lot in front of the church, at 808 High St., Westwood. There is a small box on the shed that contains receipts for tax purposes.

            Please note that the following items cannot be accepted: furniture, electronics, household items, books, toys, pillows, rags and fabric scraps.

            For additional information, contact the First Baptist Church office at 781-461-1730.