Acts 4 Ministry Inc. in Waterbury, a non-denominational, non-profit charitable organization, is collaborating with New Opportunities, Inc. (NOI) in Waterbury, to gather donations of coats and winter accessories for children, women and men to be distributed on January 19, 2015, Martin Luther King Day, at the New Opportunities Auditorium, 232 North Elm Street. The organizations are calling their collaborative drive Martin Luther King Day - Day of Service Clothing Giveaway.
“The ambition,” stated Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta, Acts 4 Ministry Executive Director, “is for our organizations to gather warm winter attire to give to people in need in our community to ensure that they will be warm and healthy throughout the cold season. We are seeking gently-used apparel for adults and children including coats, hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, new socks and new thermals. Donations can be brought to Acts 4 Ministry’s building at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury through January 16, 2015 and one day only to New Opportunities on Friday, January 16.”
“New Opportunities, Inc. has had a long-standing relationship with Acts 4. This partnership was formalized when Acts 4 joined NOI’s Basic Needs Team approximately five years ago. Together, NOI and Acts 4 are working to ensure that the needs of low-income families for clothing and household furniture are met,” commented Mary-Kate Gill, director, Elder Services and Basic Needs Team Chair.
Acts 4 Ministry, Inc. is dedicated to building relationships with people while providing them with the basics of daily living needs. “Our mission is to provide individuals or families who have suddenly lost their homes to a fire, flood or other unexpected devastation or upsetting life event to come to our facility to personally select clothing, dishes, glassware, furnishings, and other basic needs at no charge,” explained Carabetta.
Acts 4 Ministry’s building houses a retail store environment where people with immediate ‘basic living needs’ can select clothing, furniture and household items. “Individuals and families are often referred to us by other charitable organizations. In our retail store environment, they are provided with an atmosphere which preserves their dignity and allows them to walk around our store to personally select what they need vs. being handed clothing or furnishings they do not desire. This is a respectful environment where everyone is treated with caring support.”
The Acts 4 Ministry retail store is also at 1713 Thomaston Avenue and is open to the general public on Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. for the purchase of gently-used clothing, furniture and household goods.
Donations for the Martin Luther King Day – Day of Service Clothing Giveaway can be dropped off at Acts 4 Ministry’s facility at 1713 Thomaston Avenue in Waterbury Mondays through Fridays 9:00am to 3:00pm or donations can be left 24/7 in the organization’s drop box located in the parking lot outside their building. Receipts for donations can only be provided during Acts 4 Ministry’s regular operation hours. All donations are tax deductible.
For a listing of current Acts 4 Ministry’s donation needs, please visit the events page of www.acts4.org or contact Sarah Elizabeth Carabetta at 203-574-2287 or via email to executivedirector@acts4.org.