Scouts to gather clothes for charities

Eric Leake

Tuesday, March 4, 2003 | 10:02 a.m.

Empty bags are appearing on doorsteps in the area this week as part of a Boy Scout clothes drive for Good Turn Day.

Scouts are trooping through neighborhoods distributing the plastic bags, asking that residents fill them with clothes and other goods. On March 15 they will collect the donations to support Goodwill of Southern Nevada and Deseret Industries charities.

The clothes will be sold through the charity stores to support disadvantaged employment programs, or given directly to those in need.

"There just seems to be an increased demand or need for people needing assistance for food, clothing or training," said Doug Robbins, Deseret Industries store manager.

He said the turning of seasons is a good time for people to donate.

"It's springtime. It's a change of wardrobe. People are making decisions and putting things away," Robbins said.

This is the second annual Good Turn Day effort. It is modeled upon the annually successful Scouting for Food project.

"It takes a little while longer to go through a closet and pick donations than it does to go through a cupboard," said Michael Miller, scout special programs director.

Scouts and Cub Scouts from 46 troops and packs will contribute to the expanded effort to distribute 100,000 bags. Donations are also accepted at Goodwill and Deseret locations.

Last year Scouts collected a little more than 1,500 bags of clothing and "gently used goods," Miller said.

The project allows Scouts to fulfill service requirements. "We get to continue teaching the value of helping others to young boys and girls," Miller said.

"When they pick up a filled bag, there is a smile on their face," he said.

Goodwill and Deseret Industries teamed together with the Boy Scouts for the project in what Goodwill president and CEO Steve Chartrand hopes will be an example for nonprofit cooperation.

"We believe that this is a new trend in the community of nonprofits working together for their own benefit and for the community as well," Chartrand said.

"The need for services is so great in the valley and our joint resources are so limited," he said. "This is an opportunity to partnership on our joint resources and combine our services."