It always feels good to clean out our excess and donate it where it can be helpful.
That is the goal of the annual Ms. Cheap T-shirt and Coat drive, which stocks up summer shirts and winter coats for Room in the Inn clients.
This is a great time to declutter those closets and help others at the same time.
In the original years, the Ms. Cheap Drive focused solely on donated t-shirts and thanks to community generosity, we collected thousands of them. But last year when Ms. Cheap heard that winter coats were desperately needed by Room in the Inn, she figured we could collect both.
It worked out great last year and so we are asking again this year for t-shirts and coats.
Here is what is wanted: clean men’s and women’s t-shirts, particularly larger sizes. They can be from schools, vacation destinations, charity events, brands, concerts, races etc. They do not want any clothing items that are emblazoned with sexually explicit or alcohol or smoking promotions.
As far as coats and jackets, Room in the Inn wants all sizes, including children’s, but again larger sizes are in highest demand.
“Weather impacts everyone, but for those experiencing homelessness weather is difficult to manage without the proper resources,” said Room in the Inn CEO Rachel Hester. “Thanks to the Ms. Cheap T-Shirt and Coat Drive, Room In The Inn can be prepared to meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors who are provided clean shirts during the hot summer and warm coats during Nashville’s unpredictable winters.
“By scheduling this drive during July, our staff has time to sort and plan for the year and identify any gaps in sizes,” she said. “It also allows for us to determine the capacity we have to provide coats and shirts to other agencies that are in need in Middle Tennessee.
“Not only are individuals provided what they need through this drive, but they also are given the gift of choice. To choose the shirts that you like, the coat that fits your style and needs, is a gift that the homeless community is not often afforded,” she said.
The drive, which is sponsored by Main Street Media TN, Ms. Cheap, and NewsChannel 5, will take place July 1-15, with drop-off locations including Room in the Inn at 705 Drexel St., Nashville between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays. Use the call box at the entrance gate and a staff member will buzz you in and accept your donation.
- Other drop-off locations through July 15 include:
- Billy’s Corner, 4400 Murphy Road in Sylvan Park
- Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway
- Otter Creek Church locations at 3534 West End Ave., and 409 Franklin Road
FiftyForward locations at 108 Donelson Pike, 174 Rains Ave., & 530 Madison Station Blvd.
People can also donate at local Main Street Media newspaper offices at:
- 101 N Mulberry St Dickson, TN
- 216 S Hartmann Dr, Lebanon, TN
- 333 W Main St. STE E, Gallatin, TN
- 719 S Main St, STE 102 Springfield, TN
- 101 S First St, Pulaski TN
- 315 W 7th St. Columbia, TN
- 214 Buffalo Rd., Lawrenceburg, TN
Ms. Cheap thanks you in advance and so does Room in the Inn: “Thank you for your donation that helps us love all of our neighbors,” Hester said.
Details: see roomintheinn.org or contact Mark Campbell at 615-251-9791 ext. 232
Mary Hance, who has four decades of journalism experience in the Nashville area, writes a weekly Ms. Cheap column. She also appears on Thursdays on Talk of the Town on NewsChannel5. Reach her at mscheap@mainstreetmediatn.com and follow her on Facebook as Facebook.com/mscheap.
