Staff at Episcopal Campus have started a program to collect clothing donations for patients, many of whom arrive with only the clothes they are wearing and face challenges such as homelessness and poverty.
Social Worker John Berrios noted, “When many of our patients come to the hospital, they only have the clothes they’re wearing. They’re facing homelessness, poverty, and limited resources.” Berrios first reached out to Rugged Shark, a footwear company, through a friend who works there. The company responded by donating 200 pairs of shoes. “That’s when I talked to my bosses and said I wanted to make this a bigger thing,” Berrios said.
Berrios then teamed up with Dara Elbaum, an advanced standing Master’s student at Temple University’s School of Social Work who is interning at Episcopal. Elbaum explained her role: “I’ve been researching thrift stores and local businesses and contacting them to let them know about our mission. And I’ve been getting a lot of emails back.”
The first donation came from Philly AIDS Thrift, which sent about 50 pieces of men’s and women’s clothing including loungewear, pajamas, and athleisure wear. “We told them we needed a lot of men’s clothing, because that’s something we don’t have as much of, and they delivered,” Elbaum said.
D’iyanu LLC., a Black-owned Norristown-based clothing brand, was the next contributor. According to Elbaum: “I found them when I was searching for Philly-based clothing brands with missions that align with ours. They donated about $15,000 worth of clothing, including 800 sets of brand-new pajamas, which was incredible.”
Berrios described the impact on patients: “It looks like a fashion show on the units. Everyone is wearing their new clothes.” Briana Stinson, LCSW and Director of Therapeutic Programming at Episcopal added: “It’s so nice to be handed an outfit that’s clean and straight out of the package. It just makes you feel good, you know?”
A third donation came from Greene Street consignment store in the form of five bags filled with clothes. Berrios sorts these donations himself.
Looking ahead, Elbaum said: “We’d love to work with national brands.” Berrios also hopes to secure hair care items such as wigs in future donations: “Items like wigs really boost a lot of our patients’ self-esteem.”
According to Stinson: “These donations provide more than a sense of physical comfort. They restore dignity and a sense of worth during a vulnerable time.”
Patients have expressed appreciation for the initiative; some now request specific items such as sweatshirts for future distributions.
