UniFirst Corporation is in the process of donating more than $2 million in clothing donations to United Way of the Ohio Valley.
Work shirts, polo shirts, t-shirts, work pants, jeans, coveralls, safety apparel, belts and backpacks are included in the donation, which totals more than 79,000 items.
Half of the donated garments have already been packed at Owensboro’s Unifirst location and sent to United Way of the Ohio Valley for distribution to several nonprofit organizations across the Ohio Valley region. The counties included are Daviess, Hancock, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster.
“We’re so grateful for the donation and hope this is just the beginning of a long-standing partnership with UniFirst,” says Blaine Mathew, project coordinator for United Way of the Ohio Valley. “UniFirst is extremely community-minded and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to help many of our local agencies who will definitely put the clothing to good use.”
Mathew said that because United Way of the Ohio Valley is such a region-wide agency that funds over 70 agencies in the six counties it serves, UniFirst reached out to them.
“We know the people who have the need,” Mathew said. “We put a lot of time and effort into getting it to the right place.”
According to Mathew, the three tractor-trailers full of donated items was not only sent to local nonprofits but also to God’s Outreach, Inc., an organization based in Owensboro, to send items to the victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.
UniFirst Corporation is a leading provider of customized work uniforms, custom attire and facility service products to businesses throughout North America.
“UniFirst contributes to well over 200 different philanthropic organizations on a national and local level, and we couldn’t be prouder to select United Way to receive this particular donation,” said Steven Sintros, UniFirst president and CEO. “We’re committed to supporting the communities in which we do business and feel good knowing that these donations will go a long way toward helping United Way of the Ohio Valley fulfill its mission of uniting communities to deliver solutions that improve the lives of individuals and families.”
