Staff at Beth Abraham Center nursing facility held a successful holiday wellness clothing drive in December 2022, designed to support both residents and some of the residents’ families. This included both long-term and short-term residents at the Allerton-based, 448-bed, skilled nursing facility.

 

This year, organizers said staff members focused on low-income residents who may not have a family to support them, as well as on the families of some residents. Staff members donated old jackets and other items and let both the residents of the center and their families pick out the items they needed.

“We always accept any donation for clothes year-round and this was the first time that we displayed all of the clothes to let the residents pick out what they want,” said Leduc Le, recreation director at the center. “If you think about it, it’s similar to an experience at a local mall.”

 

Nearly 300 items, from winter coats, hats, gloves, jeans, and long-sleeve shirts to sweatpants, were distributed to both Beth Abraham Center’s residents as well as to about 80 residents and family members who stopped by the drive, according to Jeffrey Jacomowitz, the center’s communications director.

 

Organizers said, overall, about five to seven families of residents benefited greatly from the event, each receiving up to 5 items of clothing amid the frigid temperatures experienced in recent weeks. Jacomowitz added that the center, located on Allerton Avenue and Bronx Park East, has held similar drives over the past two years.

 

Representatives at the center said they are looking to hold a similar event for the 2023 holiday season. Meanwhile, Le concluded, “It’s so important, especially these days when many people live from paycheck to paycheck. All they need is maybe a coat or [a] pair of gloves to get them through the winter months. It can be dangerous to not have what you need during these cold days and weeks.”