Fighting for the fringes

A Snohomish clothing bank’s board and staff disagree about whom should be served.

By Leslie Moriarty

Herald Writer

SNOHOMISH — Joyce Shahan doesn’t think it makes sense that giving away used clothing should come with borders.

But the board of directors that oversees the Snohomish Food Bank and the Snohomish Clothes Closet, a clothing bank, feels differently. The board has directed volunteers at the Clothes Closet to only serve residents of the Snohomish School District.

"We are really disheartened," said Sandy Bertholf, director of the Clothes Closet. "It just doesn’t seem right."

Bertholf has been associated with the Clothes Closet for eight years. It originated in the basement of a church and later moved to share a building with the Snohomish Food Bank at Avenue D and Bickford Avenue.

Although Bertholf said the Clothes Closet has always operated independently of the food bank and handed out clothing on a separate day, that changed when the food bank hired Gary Maxfield as the director two years ago. Bertholf said she believes Maxfield wants the building for food bank operations only.

Maxfield, however, said while the food bank needs more space, that has nothing to do with the recent board decision to reiterate its mission that the food bank and clothing program serve only local residents.

The renewed focus came because Maxfield began getting complaints from area residents donating items to the Clothes Closet.

"Local people are concerned because their donations aren’t staying local," he said.

Sharon Ryden-Sinner, board president, said 40 percent of the clothing bank’s clothing has been going outside the area.

"Our community entrusts us to distribute this clothing locally," she said.

She said the board, which met Thursday, stands behind its decision.

But Shahan and Bertholf don’t. They say many Hispanic and Russian people from Lynnwood and Everett need the clothes. But what makes the board’s move unnecessary in the clothing bank operators’ eyes is that local residents get first pick of the clothing anyway.

The Clothes Closet is open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To get items, a person has to show a bill or rent receipt with a local address. After 2 p.m. people from outside the area have been able to shop for clothes, coats, shoes and linens.

"Most of what is left by then isn’t the best stuff," Shahan said. "And we would probably just be throwing it out anyway because we don’t have much room to store things.

"But these people are so thankful to have it. They are mostly the working poor who have large families and can’t afford a winter coat for everyone."

Many of them, too, give back to the clothing bank by volunteering to sort clothes. If they aren’t able to receive clothing, Shahan said some the best volunteers will be lost.

"Most of our local volunteers are older women like myself," she said. "It’s our immigrant volunteers who are the younger ones who can lift the heavy boxes. They are really a help to us." Bertholf asked board members to come see the clothing operations. Only one of eight did. She also asked them to help explain the decision to those who will no longer be served.

None of them did that; they left it up to her, she said.

"They gave me letters to hand out," she said. "And the letters are in English, which most of them can’t read."

Maxfield said the board plans to have the letter of explanation written in Russian and Spanish. Additionally, he said those who can no longer come to the Clothes Closet will be given the names of other services in their own communities.

Bertholf is so upset by the board’s action that she has decided to resign at the end of the year if the decision isn’t reversed.

"It’s so hard for me to tell these people that they can’t come back," she said.

Shahan agreed.

"Our customers are Hispanic, Russian, Arabic, Vietnamese and Filipino in origin," she said. "But they are all so grateful. They don’t know English, but they make it a point to learn ‘God bless you,’ and ‘God bless America,’ and they tell us that every week."

"We have the supplies," she said. "What difference does it make where someone lives if they are in need and we can help?"

You can call Herald Writer Leslie Moriarty at 425-339-3436

or send e-mail to moriarty@heraldnet.com.

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