Julie Whitney, who last year launched a wildly successful luggage drive to benefit children in foster care, is taking on a new challenge.
Her goal this time is to collect 10,000 pairs of new gloves to help keep kids warm this winter.
The campaign, called Gloves for Love, includes new gloves, mittens, hats and scarves. It continues through Feb. 12.
“Gloves for Love” is the successor to last year’s “Cases for Love” campaign.
Whitney, owner of Phillippi-Whitney Communications LLC, organized the luggage drive for foster children in Hamilton County after reading a news item about a similar campaign. She set a goal of collecting 1,200 suitcases. Instead, nearly 10,000 were donated, thanks to support from Sibcy Cline, Hamilton County Job & Family Services, University Moving and Storage and generous donors in Greater Cincinnati.
“We heard about the need for a drop-off location last year, and jumped on board from day one,” said Pam Sibcy, vice president of marketing for Sibcy Cline. “Our offices became very passionate about the cause and our 1,200 realtors started making their own fliers and personally collected suitcases from their clients citywide. Our branch offices had meeting rooms literally filled to the ceilings!”
The items will be put to good use, assures Moira Weir, director of Hamilton County Job and Family Services. JFS and other partnering organizations serving foster children will disperse the donated goods.
Donors can drop off new gloves, mittens, hats and scarves of all sizes to any Sibcy Cline location in Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, Dayton and Southeastern Indiana. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. All items must have price tags intact.