Jay Darnell stands at the center of racks packed with clothes that will be rolled into the auditorium at Monrovia Church of Christ, at the corner of Nance and Capshaw roads in Madison, Ala., for Free Shopping Day on Dec. 1. Information: 256-325-3835, Jay@TheClosetMinistry.com. (Kay Campbell | kcampbell@al.com)
Reporter's update posted Monday, Dec. 3 -- The results of this Dec. 1, 2012, project: More than 280 families were served, a total of 1,073 people.
The ministry gave away an estimated 11,000 pieces of clothing.
"Today's turnout proves there is a tremendous need," said Summer Darnell at the end of the day.
"We anticipate holding our next shopping day in March 2013."
And, yes: They welcome donations of both clothing and money.
Read on for more details:
MONROVIA, Alabama – “I was naked and you clothed me,” Jesus says, according to Matthew 25:36, as he describes God’s criteria for people allowed into Heaven.
Members of Monrovia Church of Christ, 595 Nance Road at the corner with Capshaw Road in Madison, Ala., have taken that directive literally.
Three times a year -- with the next time being Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – they transform their all-purpose auditorium from worship center to clothing store. Then they invite anyone who needs clothes to come choose from racks of good donated items.
"We have clothes for men, women and children – even suits for men," said Jay Darnell, who, along with his wife Summer and some 50 volunteers from the church are organizing The Closet at the church. "And in this economy, when people are looking for a job, this is the place for them."
The clothing items have been donated by members of the church and the community. Most Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to noon, volunteers are sorting, sizing, and organizing the clothes for the sale. If needed, they mend or wash clothing – but they’re also choosy.
“We don’t want to give away clothing that we’d be embarrassed to wear,” said Summer Darnell.
The church welcomes other donations, especially, this time of year, winter clothes and coats. Monetary donations will be used to purchase new underwear and socks to give away, and donations of new underwear and socks are also welcome. They also give away backpacks, purses, belts and shoes.
On the day of the sale, the volunteers will assemble to help an expected 150 to 200 people find what they need. Each shopper can have up to 30 minutes to choose up to 10 items per family member.
The teen and college members of the church will oversee a play space for children who come with their parents so that moms and dads can shop unencumbered.
It's a simple way to meet real needs that the Darnells inspired at Monrovia when they moved to Huntsville and joined the church last summer. They founded The Closet, a non-profit with affiliates now in North Carolina, South Carolina and Illinois, in North Carolina.
People in the Monrovia area probably already know where the building is – the church gave it over to FEMA as a headquarters during the response time for the April 2011 tornadoes. In fact, it was that action for the community by the church that drew the Darnells to consider joining the congregation, Darnell said.
“This congregation had already been active in the community,” Darnell said. “This is just one more way to help.”
And it’s help that comes without evangelical arm-twisting.
“After they have their clothes, we ask them if they want prayer,” Darnell said. “If they do, we pray with them, if not – well, that’s cool, too. If you need clothes, just come on in.”
After all, as the scriptural slogan for The Closet, from Act. 20:35, it's "more blessed to give than to receive."