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VOLUNTEERS COLLECT CLOTHING FOR NEEDY
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Melanie Mulligan
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SHOPPING IS A CHALLENGE for NGA members, from left, Marion Plato and Susan Kneafsey
It’s a toss-up as to what Marion Plato likes better: a good bargain or a good cause. Luckily, the long-time Larchmont Village resident has been able to pursue both those passions, charity and shopping, in the course of her 25 years as a volunteer with NGA, the New Garment Association, a group dedicated to the proposition that “old garments might pauperize, while new garments equalize.”
Founded in 1885 under its original name, the Needlework Guild of America, its mission remains to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged people in the U.S.
NGA volunteers collect new clothing, household linens, and personal care items and distribute them to those in need, working through reputable local agencies. Since the beginning, NGA has helped many needy people. They have also come to the aid of those victimized by disasters, natural or man-made, from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake through two World Wars and Hurricane Katrina.
Today, NGA is affiliated with more than 170 nonprofit charities across the nation. Reflecting the broadening scope of their services, the group’s name became NGA, Inc. in 1989 and then New Garment Association in 2000. (NGA’s annual benefit and fundraiser will be held Sat., Feb. 20 at Busby’s, with a dinner and silent auction.)
Plato and the other women volunteers (numbering 70 or so, primarily from the Hancock Park area) collectively buy and donate sheets, bedspreads, towels, nightgowns, robes, slippers, uniforms, underwear, socks—anything made of fabric—to a variety of worthy organizations.
These include Good Shepherd, Hollygrove, McIntyre House and Operation School Bell. In her quarter century of involvement with the chapter, Marion has served in every board position—including two terms as president. She and current NGA president Susan Kneafsey were recently honored with the Community Partners Award in appreciation for their efforts on behalf of Good Shepherd Center. Marion loves to shop and is a seasoned bargain hunter, but was accustomed to working solo. “I never could delegate,” she admits, laughing. “I always ended up over-extended. I just couldn’t pick up that phone to ask for help!”
To avoid having the burden fall like that on any one person, Susan Kneafsey came up with a “pyramid system” to help distribute the workload more evenly. There’s a project chairperson assigned to each charity, and every participating charity calls with a “wish list.” There’s a head buyer for each project chairman, with 20 members assigned to her to do the actual shopping.
The shoppers set out with the charity wish list with information about each recipient: age, size, measurement, etc. The shoppers then scout out bargains from L.A.’s downtown garment district to neighborhood Targets, Kmarts and internet businesses, anywhere a good deal can be found.
All of which is very much in keeping with the group’s operational philosophy: “NGA is a ‘hands-on’ organization where every member must go shopping!” Marion emphasizes. “Anyone can write a check. But the reward is in the privilege of seeing the recipients benefit from the results of our efforts; of watching a child remove worn, tattered socks and slip on a sporty new pair, of helping them accomplish this and then being able to ask them, ‘Now, doesn’t that feel good?’ Their beaming faces tell the story as their self esteem gets a real boost. It’s a joy to behold,” says Marion. |
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