By Kate Brinkman

Singing on December 2 for the open house at the Community Clothes Closet’s new and enlarged space on Highway 19 in Roswell, were high school students from St. Jude’s Youth Group under the leadership of Father Paul Fogarty. Students included Dave Nash, Denise Fredette, Arlene Sinanian, Nancy Borstelmann, Kim Larsen, Kathleen Grimes, Lisa Chaput, Maureen McDonald, and Dana Chaput.

Assisting in painting and cleaning in preparation for the open house were St. Jude’s CCD students. These students also raised money to purchase food for needy families in the North Fulton area through the Community Clothes Closet.

The Community Clothes Closet of Roswell began four years ago basically as a clothing distribution center for the local religious groups.

These groups include St. Vincent de Paul’s Women’s Auxiliary of St. Jude’s under the leadership of Mrs. Jan Chaput and Mrs. Mary Rose Tuohy, the Second Baptist Church of Roswell under the leadership of Mrs. Betty Burger, the First Baptist Church of Roswell under the leadership of Mrs. Vicky Finney, Roswell United Methodist Church under the leadership of Mrs. Bea Wilson, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Pleasant Hill Baptist, Mount Zion Baptist Church, Riverside Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, and North Fulton Methodist Church.

Women from these churches volunteer their time to staff the store, which is open four days a week.

Wider services now include the store that provides clothing, household goods and hospitality as well as emergency assistance with furniture, food and fundamental necessities.

In the vigorously expanding program, who can say in which the direction the greatest blessings flow, to those who received or those who worked and shared. Perhaps it is to both.