ClothesLineStory - Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church

ClothesLine ministry offers clothing,

community and camaraderie:

September 21, 2022

By Elizabeth Fazzini

LOWER BURRELL – Six years ago, Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church founded a ClothesLine ministry that began as an initiative to provide local school-aged children with much-needed jeans and sneakers.

“There was a need for good, used clothing,” said Bethesda member Sharon Matty, co-founder and co-coordinator of the ministry. And community leaders were telling us that school-aged children aged pre-K to 12 were showing up for school with shoes that were falling apart, she said.

The ministry has since evolved into a thriving outreach that meets a need, unites the local community, and reaches out to connect with surrounding communities.

Today, the ClothesLine sells gently used clothing, coats, shoes, purses and jewelry for women, men, babies and children on the second Saturday of every month. It’s held throughout several rooms on the first floor of the church from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The sale offers items for 25 cents, and occasionally there’s a 10 cent or buy-one-get-one-free sale. It’s held 12 months out of the year, and everyone from children to senior citizens of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds shop there.

“I love it,” said customer Adriene Nawrocki.

“I’m extremely thrifty, and this is just a way to live in 2022. I put three kids through college and a husband. I’m a part-time teacher, and this is how we afford to dress nice.

“It’s like the best deal in the valley,” she added. “And we made friends here.”

According to Matty, on any given sale day, customers are lined up at the door by 8 a.m., and the parking lot is full of cars. Customers hail from Lower Burrell and many surrounding communities.

She said the ministry has grown in leaps and bounds. At its inception in July 2016, the ministry sold 407 articles of merchandise to 36 people. In July 2022, it sold 2,042 articles to 157 people.

Several members of Bethesda and a few people from local area churches volunteer as Clothes Hangers, who sort and prepare all items for sale day. High school students also volunteer on sale days, allowing them to give back to their community.

Matty said the ministry relies solely on donations it collects in a large brown receptacle behind the church, which is emptied by volunteers two times a week.

“It’s the only place I donate to now,” said Jessie Kulbacki, who likes to give back to the ministry. She attends the sale every month to shop primarily for outdoor clothes for her 7-year-old and 3-year-old. She started shopping at the Clothesline two years ago when she needed maternity clothes. “And I’ve gotten really good shoes for my children,” Kulbacki said.

Bethesda member Liz Baker serves as the other co-founder and co-coordinator of the ClothesLine.

“There’s definitely a need for this in the area,” she said. “And there are children in the area who do need this ministry.”

Baker acknowledged that many people are crunched for money, and the ClothesLine helps them to buy affordable clothes for themselves, children and others.

“They (customers) are so grateful and thankful,” she said.

“It is just so nice for them. They see people they know and talk (with them.) It’s a nice association where people can go and see people.”

Baker said more men have begun shopping at the ClothesLine, and there is an array of shopping scenarios among customers. Mothers and grandmothers shop for children and grandchildren, respectively. Men, women and children shop for coats, shoes, clothes and jewelry. Pregnant women purchase maternity clothes. Others shop to purchase items they donate to residents in nursing homes or simply purchase articles for neighbors in need.

“It’s such a good feeling to be able to help people out who need it,” Baker said.

Matty noted that while some people simply shop for the experience, others rely heavily on this outreach.

“I hear, ‘We just couldn’t do it without your help,’” she said.

Victoria Schlager and Nancy Haubrich recently attended the ClothesLine for the first time. Both said they’ll be back.

“I love it,” Haubrich said. “There are a lot of nice things in great shape. Nowadays (clothes are) so expensive in price and hard to afford, it’s very nice to have a church like this doing stuff for the community.

The ministry needs winter coats for children. Donations can be dropped off in the large receptacle behind the church.

Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church

ClothesLine ministry offers clothing,

community and camaraderie:

LOWER BURRELL – Six years ago, Bethesda Evangelical Lutheran Church founded a ClothesLine ministry that began as an initiative to provide local school-aged children with much-needed jeans and sneakers.

“There was a need for good, used clothing,” said Bethesda member Sharon Matty, co-founder and co-coordinator of the ministry. And community leaders were telling us that school-aged children aged pre-K to 12 were showing up for school with shoes that were falling apart, she said.

The ministry has since evolved into a thriving outreach that meets a need, unites the local community, and reaches out to connect with surrounding communities.

“I love it,” said customer Adriene Nawrocki.

“I’m extremely thrifty, and this is just a way to live in 2022. I put three kids through college and a husband. I’m a part-time teacher, and this is how we afford to dress nice.

“It’s like the best deal in the valley,” she added. “And we made friends here.”

According to Matty, on any given sale day, customers are lined up at the door by 8 a.m., and the parking lot is full of cars. Customers hail from Lower Burrell and many surrounding communities.

She said the ministry has grown in leaps and bounds. At its inception in July 2016, the ministry sold 407 articles of merchandise to 36 people. In July 2022, it sold 2,042 articles to 157 people.

Several members of Bethesda and a few people from local area churches volunteer as Clothes Hangers, who sort and prepare all items for sale day. High school students also volunteer on sale days, allowing them to give back to their community.

Matty said the ministry relies solely on donations it collects in a large brown receptacle behind the church, which is emptied by volunteers two times a week.

Bethesda member Liz Baker serves as the other co-founder and co-coordinator of the ClothesLine.

“There’s definitely a need for this in the area,” she said. “And there are children in the area who do need this ministry.”

Baker acknowledged that many people are crunched for money, and the ClothesLine helps them to buy affordable clothes for themselves, children and others.

“They (customers) are so grateful and thankful,” she said.

“It is just so nice for them. They see people they know and talk (with them.) It’s a nice association where people can go and see people.”

“It’s such a good feeling to be able to help people out who need it,” Baker said.

Matty noted that while some people simply shop for the experience, others rely heavily on this outreach.

“I hear, ‘We just couldn’t do it without your help,’” she said.

Victoria Schlager and Nancy Haubrich recently attended the ClothesLine for the first time. Both said they’ll be back.

“I love it,” Haubrich said. “There are a lot of nice things in great shape. Nowadays (clothes are) so expensive in price and hard to afford, it’s very nice to have a church like this doing stuff for the community.

The ministry needs winter coats for children. Donations can be dropped off in the large receptacle behind the church.

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