Care Team Busy with Clothes Closet, Food Pantry

Dr. Betsy Harrison and the Care Team organized drive-up food pantries at the Hampton III Building during the pandemic.

Spring normally is the time associated with cleaning. However, Thomas Nelson's Care Team is offering a chance for fall cleaning by organizing another pop-up clothes closet, and it's scheduled for Nov. 9-10, with Nov. 8 dedicated to dropping off items.

"This is your decluttering time at home to clean out those closets, shoe racks, underneath the bed, whatever it is, and donate it for the purpose of our students and their families," said Dr. Betsy Harrison, dean of Student Services at the College.

This will be the fourth pop-up clothes closet at the College, with the first one in 2018. Some of the more requested items in the past, according to Harrison, have been men's, women's and children's clothes and shoes, in addition to children's books and toiletries. With a fall event this year, she expects a need for scarfs, mittens, and other cold-weather gear.

Donations of clean gently-used clothes and other items Harrison mentioned will be accepted from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 8 in the Wythe Hall Gallery (the open area by the library). The event will be in the same location having previously been in Moore Hall's Espada Room.

"That decision was made just so it'd be closer to where the students are and possibly get more activity," said Doreen Dougherty of Student Services.

Dougherty also stressed the event, which is from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Nov. 9, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 10, is also for faculty and staff.

"We're excited about having another one, finally," Dougherty said.

Harrison also announced the College's food pantry at the Hampton Hall has moved to Room 201 in Griffin Hall, with expanded hours. It will operate 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. She said snack foods are available in the new location, and she expects to have a freezer by the end of the semester.

"In addition, we have partnered with Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church on Harpersville Road for food distribution," she added.

Students can obtain a referral form from the Thomas Nelson food pantry to use at the church, which is on the local Hampton Roads Transit bus line.

In addition, the College's evening nursing students will be distributing food on select Thursdays 4-7 p.m. this fall. Students will be able to drive up outside Griffin Hall, and bags of food will be delivered to their cars. Dates will be announced as plans are being finalized.

"This work helps extend the hours of our food pantry, while meeting (the nurses') community service hour requirement," Harrison said.