Newton Rotary Reaches Goal, Collects Over 20K Pounds Of Clothing

NEWTON, MA — The Rotary Club of Newton has reached its goal of collecting more than 20,000 pounds of clothing during a series of clothing drives held throughout the summer.

Since June 5, Newton Rotary has been collecting clothing to prevent unwanted items from being sent to the local landfill. The money raised from all four summer clothing drives went toward the Rotary's scholarship fund.

The organization's most recent drive on Sept. 11 brought in 7,650 pound of clothing, pushing the collection numbers over the finish line. Because it was such a success, Newton Rotary has decided to add two additional clothing drives on Saturdays, Oct. 9 and Nov. 6 in the back parking lot of The Shops at Chestnut Hill.

“We had a great turnout on the 11th, and many people asked if there would be another one," said Rotary President Susan Faccenda Peghiny in a statement. "So...we'd like to continue."

This recycling effort is made possible through a partnership with HELPSY, the largest clothing recycling collector in the Northeast. Each year, HELPSY diverts nearly 30 million pounds of textiles from landfills through a combination of clothing drives, collection bins, thrift store partners, and curbside pickups.

For more information about the upcoming drives or the Newton Rotary Club, click here.