A volunteer looks over boxes of donated goods during the Alive! housewares donation day Feb. 6 at Fairlington United Methodist Church. Photo by Janet Barnett/Gazette Packet
Alive! collected dozens of boxes of new and gently used housewares during a drive-by donation day Feb. 6 at Fairlington United Methodist Church.
“We are collecting housewares for the first time since the pandemic started,” said Alive! board member Gerry Hebert. “We haven’t really been able to do this before now, but decided to do it outdoors, physically distance and practice safe mask wearing by everybody.”
Housewares were collected by volunteers in the church parking lot on King Street. Items will be distributed to Alexandrians who may be in their first home, transitioning from homelessness, or unable to afford basic household items.
“We have so many people in need,” Hebert said. “When people move from a shelter into public housing or public assistance housing, they often just come with the clothes on their back. They need basic housewares like sheets and pillowcases and towels and dishes. Those are the things that make a true home out of an empty apartment.”
Kylie Payne, a student at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes, volunteered helping unload donations during the event.
“I love helping and organizing things like this,” Payne said. “It’s satisfying seeing how much we can collect for people in need.”