Beginning Saturday, Jan. 16., the Issaquah Christian Church will be collecting new or gently-used clothes and blankets, part of the the 4-week long Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission (UGM) Men’s Winter Clothes Collection.

The church will be manned from 10 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, Jan. 16, 23, 30 and February 6 – and a receipt for tax purposes will be issued, if you wish to assign a value to your donation.

However a special area on the porch of the church will also be set up to allow those who want to donate clothes to be able to conveniently drop off items during the week.

The Issaquah Christian Church is located just one and a half miles south of the city at 10328 Issaquah-Hobart Rd SE.

All items need to be new or gently-used – no torn or damaged goods please.

Warm clothing items, such as shoes, boots, hats/caps, gloves, pants, sweaters, underwear in size 38-40 (or larger), ponchos, coats, are especially needed.

All items need to be in larger sizes.

With the entire economy in a lengthy downturn, the effects reach well into those of need. The winter months seemed to be the hardest with so many needing warm clothing just to get by each day.

To assist those in need, the UGM is reaching out to cities in the Puget Sound area for assistance with clothing. To meet those demands, warm men’s clothing is in urgent need.

The UGM started in 1932 by a group of churches to assist in feeding those in need during the Great Depression. Today it also has programs for alcohol and drug abuse, dental and legal clinics, transitional housing, women and children’s shelters, support with blankets, food and clothing for those homeless in Seattle, youth programs and much more.

UGM programs reach into cities beyond Seattle into towns throughout the Puget Sound area.

Contact the Issaquah Christian Church at 425-392-5848.