A joint effort, hosted by two local sisters, will see the collection of clothing items for victims of Hurricane Helene. Co-coordinators Cathy Bernardi and Theresa Berner are hosting two drive-thru drop off events and are accepting new as well as clean, gently used clothing items for children and adults. They do ask that all donated underclothes must be new, with tags still attached.
On Saturday, Oct. 26 the drive-thru station will be set up in Riverbank, at the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District, Station 26, at 3324 Topeka St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the drive-thru will be hosted at the Hughson Fire Department, 2315 Charles St., Hughson, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The effort is called Operation Hope & Love From California.
“We have partnered with Lauren Holmes, a former resident of Escalon, now living in South Carolina,” explained Bernardi. “With generous support from Lauren, who has connections to individuals in NASCAR, she has secured the transportation needed to get the clothing that is collected from California to South Carolina where she will be distributing them freely as The Forgotten Clothes Closet to individuals in need who have suffered such tremendous loss because of this devastating hurricane.”
Bernardi said they have gotten a lot of positive feedback as they get the word out about the collection, and have been supported by some local businesses through donations of collection boxes and shipping containers.
“This was just a mustard seed of an idea,” Bernardi shared, noting that they are hoping people from throughout the area will join in and donate what they can to help those in need far way across the country.
“We are also looking for volunteers who would like to help us take in donations and sort and box them to prepare for shipping on the dates of our two events,” Bernardi said of seeking volunteers to work at the drop off sites. There will be some senior volunteers on hand through the Sheriff’s Department STARS program, but all volunteers are welcome.
Bernardi’s husband, Greg, is a member of the Board of Directors for Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and is also an Emergency Service Dispatcher in the Bay Area. Her sister, Theresa’s, husband is Scott Berner, the Hughson Fire Department Chief.
“When our hearts were broken for the people of the Carolinas who are facing such unfathomable loss and devastation, it was only natural that we jump in to action to try and help,” Bernardi said. “Being on the west coast made doing so in person impossible, but through my sister Theresa’s conversations with her cousin, Lauren, we found a way that we can help here on the west coast, and what started as a mustard seed of an idea and a conversation between two sisters turned into a full-fledged effort to bring our communities together to help communities in need on the other side of our great nation.”
Editor Marg Jackson contributed to this report.
