NEW ULM - The new, large, green clothing and shoes donation bins at New Ulm, Sleepy Eye and Springfield grocery and retail stores benefit Brown County Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Donation bins were recently placed at Hy-Vee and Cash Wise store parking lots in New Ulm, Freedom Valu Center in Sleepy Eye and Tauer's Super Valu in Springfield.
In partnership with the Minnesota Department of DAV, the New Ulm DAV Chapter 15 and its auxiliary unit collect donated clothes and shoes from the bins and sends them to Savers recycle stores.
There are nearly 200 Savers stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Australia.
"We're asking people to pack their donations in tied-up plastic bags," said New Ulm DAV Commander Ralph Grundmeyer of Sleepy Eye.
Grundmeyer added that the Springfield donation bin has kept him especially busy lately.
"We had to empty it three times last week," Grundmeyer said.
New Ulm DAV members empty clothing bins each week or when they are full and fill up trailers that are hauled to Savers stores.
Savers retail outlet locations in Minnesota include East Lake Street in Minneapolis plus Rochester, St. Cloud and Duluth.
"The profits we make from donated clothing and shoes go to help pay for our van that transports veterans to Veterans Administration clinics in Minneapolis and St. Cloud each week," said Grundmeyer.
He urged people who donate clothing to other local non-profit organizations to continue to do so.
Thanks to fund-raising, donation income that included more than $26,000 from veterans and other community members plus savings, the New Ulm DAV chapter recently bought a new, $47,000, handicap-accessible van.
Each Wednesday morning, the New Ulm DAV Chapter, meets in their building located at the corner of 16th South and Valley Street.
Members pack boxes of personal items that are sent to veterans.
Chapter 15, which has more new members than any Minnesota DAV chapter, includes residents of New Ulm, Hanska, Sleepy Eye, Springfield, Lafayette, Comfrey, Mankato and St. Paul.
(Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com).
