CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Charlotte nonprofit organization is recruiting volunteers to help them wash donated clothes.

What You Need To Know

  • Nonprofit started The Clothing Drive after an influx of donations amid the pandemic

  • Volunteers help wash donated clothes for community members in need

  • The clothes help those who are washing insecure or those who can't afford them

Greater Charlotte RISE launched a project called The Clothing Drive after it received an influx of clothing donations amid the pandemic that weren’t ready to be distributed.

The Clothing Drive's organizer, Walker Spruill helps sort the clothes and works with volunteers.

"We'll find books and toys along with kids clothes, adult clothes, shoes, and sometimes trash,” Spruill said. “We go through those bags and pull out the clothing that can be used still, sort those out into loads that people can wash.”

On Sundays, Spruill sets up at Tip Top Daily Market to collect donations and hand donated clothes to volunteers for them to wash.

“A lot of the clothes that come in are dirty and smelly, and they have been sitting for a long time, and the truth is, it feels good to put on clean clothes,” Spruill said.

She also collects the clean laundry volunteers like Anna Sink drop off.

"It's very easy. I mean, I'm doing laundry anyway throughout the week so this is just 10 extra minutes,” Sink said.

Volunteer Cawana Talbert said it’s a simple way to help neighbors.

"You got on clean clothes, it’s like your attitude changes. You want to get up and go to work because I smell good, I look good. You just want to get outside. You just even don't mind hugging somebody because you smell good,” Talbert said.

Greater Charlotte RISE Executive Director Jasmine Sherman said The Clothing Drive is a much needed service project. It benefits neighbors living in tents, in hotels, and beyond.

“The clothing donations actually benefit everyone so it doesn't just apply to the housing insecure. We have people who work every day 40 hours a week, and still don't have the extra funds to buy clothes. That's just an extra stretch,” Sherman said. “The Clothing Drive, what it allows us to do is share clothes with the whole community: takes the clothes in and provides the clothes right back out.”

All volunteers receive laundry pods to use when washing donated clothes. To find out how to get involved, visit this link.