Homeless Shelter in Desperate Need of Winter Clothing Donations

EAST VILLAGE, NY — East Village residents spotted signs on Wednesday in their neighborhood from The New York City Rescue Mission homeless shelter saying it was in desperate need of winter clothing donations.

Fliers were posted all around the East Village Thursday that said the shelter was looking for warm clothing like socks, scarves, winter coats, gloves, sweaters, blankets, and more.

The flier used this photo of the shelter's empty closet to show how desperately the mission needs donations.

"Since the beginning of the summer, the New York City Rescue Mission has been faced with an unprecedented surge in the volume of hurting and homeless neighbors passing through our doors," Rebecca Lee, spokesperson for the mission, told Patch.

Lee added that while they're in desperate need for warm clothing, their biggest need is now food. The rescue mission prepares meals for almost 600 people every day, Lee said.

"Just $2.87 provides a hot meal for one of our hungry neighbors," she said.

The rescue mission has a crowdfunding campaign up with a goal of raising $100,000 to provide 34,000 meals for the next two months.

Clothing and food donations are accepted 24/7 at the New York City Rescue Mission headquarters at 90 Lafayette St. between Walker and White streets in the Lower East Side. Here are some other centers where you can drop off your donations:

Maryhouse, 55 E. Third St. between First and second avenues

Graffiti Church, 205 E. Seventh St. between avenues B and C

Middle Collegiate Church, 50 E. Seventh St. between First and Second Avenues

The Catholic Worker St. Joseph House, 36 E. First St. between First and Second avenues

The Bowery Mission, 227 Bowery near Prince

Photo credit: NYC Rescue Mission