Council of Churches expands its tornado support to surrounding area

Date: 10/3/2011

SPRINGFIELD — The Council of Churches Distribution Center at the Basilica of the Holy Apostles — formed out of necessity and a desire to meet the needs of the June 1 tornado victims in the Springfield area — has evolved into an entity that is also serving additional needs of those in Springfield’s surrounding communities.

The Distribution Center initially served 15 to 20 clients daily. However, because the help is solely free to those in need and given the current economy, the center has seen the numbers double. The center offers help in the form of gently used clothing, household items, and furniture and also toiletries. This location also offers an opportunity for people to fulfill their community service through volunteering.

This Distribution Center is successful because it is supported by the generosity of Springfield and its surrounding cities through donations of those gently used items. The Distribution Center is operated solely by volunteers.

Willie Wright, the center’s director, said he has had four very faithful volunteers who come in whenever the center is open and do what it takes to keep it running smoothly. It is because of those who donate items and those who volunteer their time the program has been successful, he noted.

Currently, the center is in need of gently used winter clothing for all ages, household items, refrigerators, stoves, televisions, cribs, blankets, baby diapers, and new mattresses. The Council of Churches Distribution Center, located at Basilica of the Holy Apostles, 339 State St., Springfield, is open Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Those who would like to donate gently used items of clothing, household items or furniture and toiletries, or are interested in volunteering, may call Wright at 459-5341.

Monetary donations may be made by checks payable to the Council of Churches and mailed to 39 Oakland St., Springfield, MA 01108.

For more information, visit www.councilofchurchesgs.org.