Ethical Friends of Children is a free shop run by the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island in Garden City. This outreach program assists more than 2,500 children and their families each year by providing them with clothing, backpacks for school and infant furniture. The service is set up like a store so people can select what they want from a wide variety of clothes.
“Customers are referred by many of the area’s social service organizations and are supported by both religiously affiliated and private agencies funded by Nassau and Suffolk counties,” said volunteer Pat Spencer of Port Washington.
Ethical Friends of Children, established in 1985, is staffed entirely by volunteers and there is no charge for any services. Individuals, families or community groups donate gently used clothing and other things children may require, such as backpacks. Any cash donations go entirely towards purchase of needed items for children, such as diapers and formula.
Volunteers are always welcome to help sort, organize and deliver clothing and goods.
“We will even pick up and deliver larger items like cribs,” said volunteer Judy Rosemarin of Long Beach. “Sometimes it’s the only way needy families can obtain these important pieces.”
Visit www.ehsli.org/social-action/give to make a monetary donation.
Contact Jim LoPresti by email at efoc@ehsli.org or call 516-280-5526 for details about making item donations and volunteering.
—Ethical Humanist Society
