On Saturday, Sept. 9, the Aldergrove-based Clothes2U giveaway marked it鈥檚 21st year with a 鈥楤ack In School鈥� event at St. Dunstan鈥檚 Anglican Church in Aldergrove.
Clothes for babies to adults, toys, diapers/incontinence items, linens, personal and smaller household things were free, with an entry fee of $4, and kids 10 and younger were admitted without charge.
What started as an offshoot of a single parents group launched by Aldergrove鈥檚 Ernie Jantzen, to distribute baby clothes to people in need, has grown considerably since the first Clothes2U was held in the parking lot of Nicomekl Elementary School in 91原创 in partnership with Home Church 91原创.
Clothes2U, now in its 21st year of giveaways, was at St. Dunstan's church in Aldergrove on Saturday.
鈥� 91原创 Advance Times (@91原创Times)
鈥淭his is 21 years, we鈥檝e been doing this,鈥� Jantzen, 72, told the 91原创 Advance Times.
鈥淔irst one was Sept. 7, 2002.鈥�
Now, giveaways are held in Surrey, Mission, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack as well as 91原创, with clothing for adults and other necessities available.
鈥淭he response has been ever-increasing in popularity,鈥� Jantzen said, as more people learn about the giveaway.
鈥淧eople are like, oh I didn鈥檛 know this existed.鈥�
Jantzen had wondered about the impact of the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In, underway just down the street from the church, but the event didn鈥檛 appear to have much impact on the giveaway, in terms of turnout. About 50 families dropped by.
鈥淚t [Cruise-In] didn鈥檛 help it, it didn鈥檛 hinder it,鈥� Jantzen summarized.
More Clothes2U events are planned for Surrey, White Rock, and Chilliwack in the weeks ahead, with a detailed schedule available online at the website.
鈥淎lmost Christmas,鈥� the next event in the 91原创 area, is set for Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Fort 91原创 Lions Club Hall, at 23022 88th Ave.
For more information, to volunteer, or to learn about other upcoming drives, call 604-857-4617 or email clothes2u2002@gmail.com.
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