Scituate High School Student Brooke Dubois collects 1500 pounds as part of Lapels Dry Cleaning’s annual clothing drive to ben

Sibling rivalries know no boundaries. For some it’s who gets better grades or scores the most point. For Brooke Dubois, the “rivalry” has a more altruistic bent. She wanted to collect more clothes for the Lapels Dry Cleaning Clothing Drive to benefit Big Brother Big Sister than her brother Josh did in 2016. She accomplished that goal and then some, collecting 1500 pounds of clothes to Josh’s 1398.

“There really are no losers when you have a rivalry of this nature,” said Kevin Dubois, father to Brooke and Josh and CEO of Lapels Dry Cleaning. “Of course, having seen what Josh did last year helped her get a bit of a head start.”

Brooke decided to use the Lapels Dry Cleaning Annual Clothing Drive to benefit Big Brother Big Sister for her community service work for school just as her brother did during his junior year. Brooke just completed her freshman year at Scituate High School.

Knowing that the drive would take place later in the spring (April 22 to May 7) she began getting the word out to family, friends, and acquaintances. Word spread from there and Brooke began collecting clothing in earnest. Donations were either dropped off at her house or, more often than not, she picked up items directly from donor households. At the end of the drive, on May 7, Brooke delivered 1500 pounds of clothes to Lapels Dry Cleaning of Cohasset’s collection.

With Brooke’s 1500 pounds, Lapels Dry Cleaning of Cohasset collected 2990 pounds of clothes, which was the most of any Lapels Dry Cleaning store participating. Lapels Dry Cleaning locations in Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, and New Jersey participating. A grand total of 16,093 pounds of clothes was collected—the most ever in the 14 years Lapels has conducted the drive.

“Obviously, we’re proud of both our children for what they do in and out of the classroom. But this was a special effort for a very worthy cause,” said Erica Dubois, Brooke and Josh’s mother.

The clothing donated will be sold through a variety of channels-- consignment shops, flea markets and online portals in those respective states. The sales of those items will go to fund mentoring programs for young girls and boys in those states.

“I’m so happy we were able to get that many donations but what was really cool was how supportive friends and family were in helping this cause,” said Brooke. “In a way, it almost made me forget that I was trying to beat Josh. Almost.”

For complete information on Lapels Dry Cleaning, please visit www.mylapels.com.