Email
Print
Solid waste sites to collect coats
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: November 13, 2009
Collecting coats at the Iredell County Landfill and transfer stations might seem a little bit out of the normal job description for recycling coordinator Diane Lewis.
But the way Lewis sees it, reusing is reusing, and she believes the need for coats will be a great one this winter.
"Being the recycling coordinator for the county, I see firsthand how wasteful society is in a time when we need to be reusing instead of tossing everything into the waste stream," she said.
Lewis said every day people dispose of items that others might be able to use.
So Lewis, with the OK from Solid Waste Director David Lambert and County Manager Joel Mashburn, initiated a coat drive at the main landfill on Twin Oaks Road and at the four transfer sites across the county.
The coats will be distributed to Fifth Street Ministries, she said.
Lewis said the idea came to her a few weeks ago when a woman, who spotted the clothing recycling trailer at the landfill, asked for help after losing her belongings in a fire.
"It hit me that there were so many people that would need hellp this year," she said.
She directed the woman to a local thrift shop, but decided something could be done to help people get warm clothing for the winter.
Lewis said the textile trailer, in which used clothing and other items are collected, has been at the landfill for about 18 months.
Once the truck is full, the contents are taken to a business called Williams and Co. in Salisbury. From there, the clothes are distributed to Haiti and Africa.
Lewis said the goal of her coat drive is to help residents of Iredell County.
Lewis said thrift stores are a good option for people to get winter clothing, but for some folks, the few dollars charged at a thrift store are out of reach.
She said the landfill and the transfer station sites are the perfect collection sites.
"Everybody goes to the landfill at some time," she said. "All they've got to do is drop it off."
Just a few days after discussing her idea with Lambert, Lewis' office was crowded with coats donated by coworkers.
She said coworkers at the landfill brought in 53 coats in two days.
Lewis isn't just limiting it to coats. She is also hoping to collect gloves, scarves and hats.
The only condition is that the items be in good shape and clean.
Patti West, director at Fifth Street, said the need for these items is great.
She said the number of people seeking shelter and help at Fifth Street is up drastically from previous years.
We're seeing people that never thought they'd be looking for help," she said.
West said the coats collected by the solid waste division will be distributed as needed.
"We contact schools and other organizations to see where the need is," she said.
Some of the coats will be handed out during the Fifth Street Ministries Christmas dinner in December.
And, if there are more coats than Fifth Street can distribute, there are other agencies that can benefit, West said.
Lewis said she believes this is a good way for people to make a difference at no cost.
"The gift of giving is not from the pocketbook," she said.
Drop-off Locations
Iredell County Solid Waste Main Facility
354 Twin Oaks Road
Statesville
(704) 878-5430
Mooresville Transfer Station
158 Macleod Drive (off N.C. Highway 150)
Mooresville
(704) 669-5314
Harmony Transfer Station
West Memorial Highway
Union Grove
(704) 539-5447
Central Transfer Station
3918 Wilkesboro Highway
Statesville
(704) 876-2666
West Iredell Transfer Station
257 Watermelon Road
Statesville
(704) 832-2316
Email
Print
