Clarkston United Methodist Church is offering the community a chance to help people in need by donating new or slightly used sleeping bags, winter coats, hats, or gloves. The donated items will be delivered on Nov. 3.
‘We just want to help the homeless,? said Jay Bleim, a member of the Sleeping Bags For The Homeless ministry team. ‘With getting to the cold period, a sleeping bag is something they could use?
The church sponsored the ministry as one of its outreach programs for the past three years.
Bleim said their goal is to help at least 100 people. Two teams will deliver donations, one to Grace Centers of Hope and Salvation Army in Pontiac, and the other to North End Soup Kitchen in Flint.
They would like to take 50 sleeping bags each to Pontiac and Flint.
‘The kitchen serves food at about 11:30, so we are going to get up there and set up early, around 10:30, and hopefully be there in time for us to hand out sleeping bags,? said Bleim.
Along with the sleeping bags, each recepient will be given a gallon-size goody bag, said Bleim.
Each bag will include toothbrushes, tooth paste, granola bars, raisins, cheese and crackers, Slim Jims, juice box, and bottled water. Also there will be personal hygiene materials such as trial-size soaps, shampoo, lotion, pocket size tissues, and lip baum, as well as a gift certificate to McDonalds.
‘We’re giving out coats too, so we want to line the coats and put in the pockets Kleenex and Chap Stick.? said Bleim. ‘If we could get some community help, that would be awesome.?
To donate items or volunteer for the delivery team, call Eileen Bullen, 248-922-0122, or Jay and Joyce Bleim, 248-625-0875. Donations will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 2.
‘We’re all excited and ready to go,? said Jay. ‘Our CUMC SBFTH Ministry would not have been possible without the behind-the-scene efforts from Tammy Cropp, Eileen Bullen, Abby Whiteford, and Joyce Bleim, who organized and did all the shopping for the personal goody bags.?