Hattiesburg Junior Auxiliary to Provide Gently Used Coats and Sweaters to Women and Children of Hattiesburg

HATTIESBURG, MISS., Tuesday, November 29, 2011— Members of the Junior Auxiliary (JA) of Hattiesburg will once again host its Coat and Sweater Giveaway this Saturday, December 3 at Kamper Park Pavilion in Hattiesburg.  JA volunteers will be distributing gently used coats and sweaters to women and children of the Hattiesburg area from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.

The media is invited to see this far-reaching project in action, as members of the JA Wardrobe Warehouse project will give away hundreds of gently used coats and sweaters in a variety of sizes. 

This event is free and open to the public; however, items will be limited per person and there are limited quantities of clothing available for men. “As an organization, we are doing our best to make sure no one in our community suffers through the winter due to a lack of warm clothes,” said Valerie Wilson, project co-chair. “While we may not be able to solve all of the problems facing individuals, we can provide the warmth of a coat or sweater, which can be a tremendous need during this time of year.”

Along with this one-time annual coat giveway, the JA Wardrobe Warehouse project serves families and children year-round, with a boutique-styled ‘store’ for individuals needing assistance.

“JA is honored to provide a safe personal shopping experience for women and children that may not otherwise be possible,” said Charla McSwain, project co-chair. “We receive referrals from partner agencies to provide much needed clothing, oftentimes working with families in emergency situations, such as fire or disaster. The Wardrobe Warehouse boutique is always free to those we serve, in hopes of easing the burdens they are experiencing.”

Wardrobe Warehouse has been a project of JA for the past five years, serving women, children and men in Forrest and Lamar counties. At last year’s event, more than 200 items to area residents.