Jeff City husband and wife collect, wash, donate clothes to needy
By Matt Grant
Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 11:19 p.m.
Read more: Local, Business, Economy, Consumer, Community, Right Off Your Back, Jefferson City, Fitzpatrick, Brandi Fitzpatrick, Dennis Fitzpatrick, Off your Back, Clothes, Donate, Needy, Poor, E Mail
JEFFERSON CITY -- Brandi Fitzpatrick's garage is so crammed and cluttered with clothes, she can barely get around. But for her, that's actually a good thing.
"I have all brands, all sizes," she said. "All the way from infant up to extra sizes."
Three weeks ago, Fitzpatrick started an organization, with her husband, called "Right off Your Back" - as in giving someone the shirt off your back. Both teach Sunday School and wanted to do something to help those in need.
The goal was simple: Collect clothes from friends and family, wash them and donate them. Clothes are separated by size and put into different categories - to make finding them - and matching them with those who need them easier.
So if someone needs a prom dress, for instance, Fitzpatrick would e-mail her contacts to see if anyone could help. The program got started with just a few e-mails but in less than a month Fitzpatrick's contact list grew to over a hundred people.
"I am not a rich person, I don't have a lot of resources," she wrote on her Web site. "All I have is the desire in my heart to help others."
With the help of the Internet, they're now getting donations from all across the country.
"I never expected this to happen," said her husband, Dennis. "I thought we were gonna start a little smaller. I'm very proud that we have as much as we do, as fast as we have."
One person they were able to help recently was Edward Todd, 51, who was living in a homeless shelter. Todd walked to Missouri from Michigan after losing his job.
With no money, he was about to walk to Wyoming, to be closer to his sisters - a trip that would take him about a month, he said. All he needed was a wagon to carry his stuff.
But Fitzpatrick did him one better. She got him a haircut and was able to raise enough money to buy him a bus ticket home.
"These people happened to come along and they helped me out tremendously," Todd said as he waited for the bus. "Somehow they got donations and instead of walking I'm taking the bus - in style."
The Fitzpatrick's say their services are free and nobody in need would be turned away. They say they've spent around $500, out of their own money, to help the program. They say every cent has been worth it.
"Everybody has needed help at some time," said Fitzpatrick. "And I'm just glad we can be a resource for the community."
If you would like to donate, or receive clothes, there is a link to Brandi Fitzpatrick's Web site below.
