2 - MERCHANDISER - Warwick Edition - July 7, 2021
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Ferris Wheel Turns Used Clothing Into Compassion
WARWICK EDITION
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Back in late 2013, Sherry Gassert’s husband sustained a head injury. During the first few months after that happened, a neighbor named Pharis helped Gassert’s family in myriad ways. “I wanted a way to repay him,” said Gassert, who decided to pay it forward and honor Pharis at the same time. By April of 2014, Gassert had started receiving donations for a nonprofit clothing bank in a Lititz neighborhood that came to be known as Ferris Wheel Clothing Bank. “We were going to focus on kids’ clothes,” said Gassert, who coordinates the bank with her daughter
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Mary Oehme Gardens To Celebrate 25 Years
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The Lititz Historical Foundation’s Mary L. Oehme Gardens turn 25 years old this summer and will celebrate the occasion with a garden party on Friday, July 9, from 5 to 8 p.m. The event was rescheduled from June 11. The gardens are located behind 137 E. Main St., Lititz. The gardens were officially completed and ready for unveiling on June 9, 1996, after months of planning and many hours of work by dedicated volunteers from the Lititz Historical Foundation (LHF). With a donation from William B. Oehme, Mary’s husband, and support from the LHF Tour of Gardens and private individuals, there was enough capital to complete the project. The extensive improvements tied the property’s two houses together. During the garden party, there will be self-guided tours of the gardens, light refreshments, and volunteers available to answer questions. Admission is free, but there is a fee to take a tour of the 1792 Johannes Mueller House. The Lititz Museum and gift shop will be open until 9 p.m.
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Steph Stiffler. However, the pair started to see the need for clothing for parents, as well as grandparents taking care of their grandchildren. From there, the bank mushroomed into providing household items, pots, pans, bedding, books, toys, personal care items, and, when a quick turnaround, furniture, which Gassert’s husband picks up in his truck. Children’s clothing starts with preemie sizes and ranges to 18 to 20. Junior items are available, as well. For adults, sizes range up to 5X for women and 7X for men. “We have maternity, scrubs, and an athletic section,” said Gassert. Outerwear, bathing suits, and new underwear are also stocked. “(All clothing) is organized and sized,” said Gassert. “If I wouldn’t wear it or one of my grandchildren (wouldn’t wear it), we don’t hang it up,” she noted. Stiffler added that items are checked to be sure they are stain free. “We want people to shop with dignity,” said Gassert. “We don’t want them to have to root through bins.” The approximately 300 people who are served by the bank each month are referred through PA 211, the United Way, the organization’s Facebook page, the clothing bank’s website, personal reference, or social workers at local schools or with Lancaster General Health.
“We allow 20 items of clothing is used to bag items for clients. per person, and there’s no time Paying it forward involves teachlimit,” said Gassert, who noted that ing family too. “I have four grandmost clients are seen by appoint- children … and I love being able to ment. In some situations, she will show them when they don’t need receive a request for clothing in a something anymore, we can pass it specific size, and she will pull on,” said Gassert. “They constantly together the items to be picked up. donate their clothes and toys.” In addition to the clothing bank, Readers who wish to donate gena yearly book bag giveaway is held. tly used clothing and other items “Last year, we (gave away) 150 may contact the organization at ferbook bags,” said Gassert, who noted riswheel14@hotmail.com. More that those wishing to receive a book information may be found by visiting bag must register ahead of time, but https://ferriswheel14.wixsite.com they need not live in the Warwick /fwci/ or searching for “Ferris Wheel School District. According to Stiffler, Clothing Bank” on Facebook. donated backpacks can be new or in gently used condition. “We do a Christmas and an Easter event,” said Gassert. “Last year, because of COVID, we delivered 200 presents,” she noted, adding that she, her daughter, and her husband dressed as elves. The 2021 Easter giveaway served 40 children. Donated items that cannot be used for the clothing bank are given to other organizations. Sherry Gassert (left) and her daughter Steph Stiffler organize gently Gassert and Stiffler have devised a way to create used clothing items to be distributshopping bags from old ed to those in need through Ferris Wheel Clothing Bank. T-shirts so that no plastic
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