With winter’s cold steadily gaining ground in Delaware, a group of state representatives helped make the season more bearable for those less fortunate in their communities.
For the second year in a row, Dover Reps. Brad Bennett and Darryl Scott, Smyrna Rep. Bill Carson and Middletown Rep. Quinn Johnson collected coats, sweaters and warm clothes for central Delaware senior centers and homeless shelters.
Throughout the months of October and November, the Democratic representatives asked their constituents to donate new and slightly worn items at businesses in their districts.
“It’s citizens helping citizens,” Carson said.
On Dec. 16, they delivered the clothes to several locations, including the Interfaith Mission for Housing and The Shepherd Place homeless shelters in Dover.
“It’s a great thing,” said Interfaith Program Manager Erich Gillespie. “We’ll be able to give the guys sweaters and warm jackets so they can look presentable for job interviews and when they go out into the community.”
The Interfaith shelter on Forrest Avenue in Dover houses homeless men and provides them opportunities to kick drug and alcohol habits or just turn their lives around.
Often, Gillespie said, his residents end up at the shelter after losing their homes or being forced onto the street.
“They’re coming in hard times, and a lot of times they come with just the clothes on their backs,” he said.
The representatives brought a box full of men’s items to Gillespie’s shelter and dropped off dozens of clothes for women and children to The Shepherd Place.
Bennett said initiatives like the clothing drive are a key part of his job description.
“One of the most important things we can do as state reps is to help people in our community,” he said. “That’s the reason I wanted to become a state rep.”
But the credit all goes to the community, Scott said.
“Our constituents, this is the second year they’ve come through for us,” he said. “It’s amazing when you think how tough the economic times are.”
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com.
