Published: August 06, 2009 01:31 pm      

A clothes call in Clark County

The Salvation Army expects more to take advantage of event because of economy

CLARKSVILLE — Fighting a cancer that doctors say is incurable takes a lot out of 9-year-old Victoria Martin.

Since before she was 2 years old, she has had brain cancer and has undergone radiation, surgery and chemotherapy in an effort to put her in remission.

That also has taken a toll on her family financially, leaving them in a bind when it comes to paying for extras, such as new back-to-school clothes.

So they, along with hundreds of others, came to The Salvation Army for its annual clothes giveaway that started Wednesday and goes through today.

“It’s — wow!” Christina McGlothin, Victoria’s mom, said, pausing between her words as she looked around at all the racks filled with clothes. “We’re finding stuff we really, really need.”

McGlothin brought Victoria — along with her two other children and her fiance — to stock up on the necessities.

“It’s good, because there’s so many clothes,” said 5-year-old Ricky McGlothin, who will start kindergarten this month.

The troubling economy brought Sunny Presley and her family to the event, too.

Presley’s husband is laid off and the couple have two children. In addition, she recently got custody of her sister’s two children.

“This is wonderful, because it helps out a lot of the parents and the kids, too, to make sure the kids have clothes for school,” Presley said.

Though, she admitted it takes some hunting through the racks to find good items that fit.

“It’s better than nothing,” she said. “You take what you can get in a situation like this — and they need it.”

Roxanne Haley, business administrator for The Salvation Army, said this event has been happening since 1990. However, she feels the economy may bring in more people this year than in previous ones. Last year, 1,214 people received free clothes. Midway through the first day this year, that number was already up to about 550, Haley said.

To participate, people have to provide proof of residence — showing that they live in Clark, Floyd, Crawford, Harrison, Scott or Washington counties. They also have to show either proof of enrollment or a birth certificate for each child. Each child is allowed to pick out eight items of clothing — including coats and shoes — for free.

Adults students also are eligible to receive clothing.

The event goes on through today at the Clarksville location until 7 p.m.



SO YOU KNOW

• To participate, people have to provide proof of residence — showing that they live in Clark, Floyd, Crawford, Harrison, Scott or Washington counties. They also have to show either proof of enrollment or a birth certificate for each child. Each child is allowed to pick out eight items of clothing — including coats and shoes — for free. Adult students also are eligible to receive up to eight items of free clothing.



BACK TO SCHOOL

• West Clark Community Schools: Tuesday

• Clarksville Community School Corp.: Wednesday

• New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corp.: Thursday

• Greater Clark County Schools: Aug. 26