D.C. Lawyers Group Holds Holiday Clothing Drive for Homeless
Updated: A Washington, D.C., group of lawyers and legal staffers is helping the homeless with an annual holiday clothing drive and a summer fundraiser.
In recent years, Gifts for the Homeless has collected thousands of bags of used clothing for the homeless and has raised $100,000 in annual donations. Most of the donations come from the legal community, according to an article on the group’s website.
The group held its annual clothing drive last weekend, distributing 3,945 bags and boxes of used clothes to 78 shelters and organizations serving the homeless, the group’s president, Carol Weiser, told ABAJournal.com.
The group’s Banding Together fundraiser, held in June this year, bills itself as a battle of the law firm bands. The winner is determined by the band that gets the most donations in the “ballot box.” Competing bands included The Precedents and The Sanctions.
A handful of lawyers formed Gifts for the Homeless in 1986 to collect money from their colleagues at three D.C. law firms. Now the group is supported by legal personnel from more than 100 law firms and legal organizations.
“When I first joined Sutherland Asbill & Brennan, there were several people from the firm on the board, and the used clothing drive was held at the firm,” Weiser said. “I volunteered to help with the drive my first year at the firm and was immediately hooked. It is incredibly rewarding.”
All of the group’s expenses are covered by law firms, legal vendors or members of its board of directors.
Updated at 2:55 PM to include information from the group’s president.
