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Date: 2/23/2022
AGAWAM — What’s inside the donations shed behind Feeding Hills Congregational Church? Clothing for people in need and support for the church’s other charitable missions.
The clothing donation shed behind FHCC, at 21 N. Westfield St., Feeding Hills, had its best year yet in 2021, said church Treasurer Linda Heinz.
“In 2021 the clothing shed at FHCC received 17,675 pounds, enough to clothe an estimated 3,256 people all over the world,” said Heinz.
The shed was set up in 2019 by St. Pauly Textile Inc., a family-owned business in western New York. The business collects useable clothing left in its sheds across the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, and sells them to agencies serving people in need in the United States and in developing countries around the world. The clothing is sold “for pennies on the pound” to nonprofit groups. St. Pauly provides hosts of its donation sheds with a monthly payment based on the volume of donations there.
At first, Heinz said, collections in the shed behind FHCC were slow. After putting up signs in front of the church, along with members of the FHCC and their families and friends donating clothes, the pace picked up.
Some of the clothing or items they accept to be donated include shoes, belts, purses, linens and blankets. She said the collection does not accept all household items, but only “practical clothing” — anything that folks may need for daily wear.
“We take clothing in good condition,” she added.
Items to be dropped off should be collected in a bag and placed in the shed, Heinz said. She said anything left outside of the shed that is not clothing will be thrown away.
Once a month, St. Pauly’s picks up the clothing at the FHCC, and “they send a check to us based on the pounds collected,” said Heinz. She said St. Pauly’s sent the FHCC a letter, acknowledging and thanking the church for its efforts. In return, Heinz said, “We’re very fortunate to St. Pauly’s that they reached out to us to help them.”
Heinz said the church doesn’t have any particular donation goals for 2022.
“Whatever people provide is wonderful,” she said. “We have no control over what people give. We encourage our families to donate … it’s for a good cause. It helps the needy and gives them clothing. It’s a very Christian effort and a good mission.”
Aside from the clothing shed, the FHCC is involved with a variety of charitable events, nonprofits and organizations in the community.
Heinz noted that the church is regularly involved with the Parish Cupboard, a food pantry and meal site that serves Agawam and West Springfield.
Every fall, the FHCC sponsors a bike ride, with all proceeds going to the Heifer Project, an international nonprofit working to feed the hungry. Heinz explained that this money goes to people in third world countries who struggle with daily essentials such as food and water.
“One mission of the FHCC is feeding the hungry,” said Heinz.
Another yearly event is the CROP Hunger Walk involving Agawam and West Springfield. All of the money raised also goes toward feeding the hungry.
Heinz said last year, this event was conducted virtually and raised even more money than in previous years.
“People are very generous,” she added.
All FHCC events are open to everyone in the community.