Valley clothing ministries see dip in attendance, but not in need

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

Because the coronavirus pandemic keeps more people indoors, area clothing ministries have seen a decrease in demand for services, but not necessarily a reduced need.

Kim Shawl, one of the founders of the Clothing Closet at Kephart United Methodist Church in White Oak more than 16 years ago, said the number of participants has dropped from a high of 60 to 90 people the first Saturday of each month to about 20 following a spring/summer hiatus last year.

“During the pandemic, we had to shut down for four months and we lost a lot of people. I don’t know whether people think we closed or just don’t want to come out,” Shawl said. “People counted on us a lot, especially for the kids’ clothes. Kids are still kids and kids are still growing.”

Shawl said the ministry had grown until last April when it closed temporarily during the pandemic. 

It was a spin-off of the clothing ministry at Kephart’s sister church, Calvary-First United Methodist Church in McKeesport. Shawl said she suggested the Clothing Closet following her mother’s death, starting with a lot of her mother’s clothing.

“It started off very small, just some of our church members,” Shawl said.

Eventually the church added a coffee shop to the monthly clothing distributions, and people who didn’t attend the church came regularly.

The participants might spend an hour socializing, drop off some used clothing that’s no longer needed and take home items for growing children or the change of seasons.

“Some of the people who were coming actually became some of our volunteers,” Shawl said. “It’s kind of sad for us because we used to serve so many people.”

The situation is similar at the McKeesport site. Both are open on the first Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m.

“We try at both sites to minister to the whole person,” the Rev. William Meekins said. “We minister to them physically and spiritually.” 

Meekins said the churches have had to limit donations to church members since the pandemic began to reduce the risk of infection for the volunteer staff, which sorts through the donations.

Nancy Stother, one of the volunteers at Calvary-First UMC, said the Clothing Closet often provides items for an area shelter for women and their children, but in general, participation at the clothing ministry is down.

“A lot of people used to come before school started to get clothes for their kids. Now, when they do come, it’s because they don’t have anything,” Stother said. “We had one gentleman who usually comes for food who had been sick and lost a lot of weight. He came in and needed clothing that fit.”

Stother said the church doesn’t advertise the clothing and food ministries, it just reaches out to the neighborhood.

“It’s definitely a need here,” Stother said.

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