Hangers for Housing. How you can help.

When most of us think of Housing Works we go straight to those great Armani linen slacks we scored for $30.00 or that bargain bookcase, but for over 20,000 New Yorkers the organization is their lifeline. Daniel Moore, Manager of the Gramercy Thrift Shop has contacted us because they’re in need of hangers to display donated garments. We want to spread the word to all those wardrobe folks out there who are up to their ankles in unusable hangers. All too often we simply discard boxes of plastic hangers at wrap or throw away the hangers from stores that don’t work on our racks. Now a phone call will have them picked up and given a new life helping homeless victims of HIV/AIDS.

Housing Works

Founded in 1990, the organization has become the nation’s largest community based AIDS service organization. In addition to housing, food programs and medical care, Housing Works also provides legal services and assists their clients navigating the medicaid and social service bureaucracies. All of these services are provided free of charge to our homeless neighbors. Many of these men and women found themselves in this desperate state after their diagnosis rendered them either an outcast or too ill to sustain employment.

This is a model for service agencies. The stores are staffed primarily by volunteers and most of the paid staff have made sacrifices to put their skill to helping. “I’m making only about two thirds of what I was making when I left commercial retail, ” Dan Moore says without any sense of regret. This results in a tremendous percentage of their income going to the clients.

We are in tough economic times when our pockets are all too empty. Here we are offered the opportunity to help by simply recycling on a higher level. Living with HIV/AIDS provides great challenges to all those with the disease, add homelessness and dire poverty and despair soon can become your blanket. This vital organization rips that blanket from countless good souls and replaces it with a warm bed, nutritious meals and guidance to a sustainable life.

If you can help PLEASE contact Tamara Zoni at (718)786 6160. Ms Zoni will arrange for pickup within 48 hours in most cases. Please note: they take plastic and wooden hangers; wire hangers aren’t of use to them, however they will also be glad to take clothing and set dressing as well.

Take this opportunity to to partner with one of the organizations that prove the depth of New York’s  soul.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!

Cheryl & Tommy (with Roger Kimpton)