Live Green and Repax Mounting the Largest Clothing Drive in D.C. History

Live Green and Repax are teaming up this March to organize, Fwd: Your Fashion, the largest community clothing drive in D.C. history. The drive, which benefits Goodwill, began March 19 at various locations around the city and ends April 21 at Green Rush, Live Green’s Earth Day, eco-themed scavenger hunt, with clues that lead participants to local green businesses and offers a $1,000 prize.

“This drive is for the many people in D.C. who are going through a tough time,” explained Steve Ma, president of Live Green. Since its launch in 2008, Live Green has worked as a tool for residents to help them find affordable, quality services that are also eco-friendly, partnering with more than 100 green businesses throughout D.C. The organization was awarded the Environmental Excellence Award in 2009 by Mayor Adrien Fenty. “We are thrilled to be working with partners who, like us, are focused on job creation, a thriving green economy, and a more sustainable future.”

The drive organizer’s plan to collect more than 5,000 pounds of clothes is far more than Goodwill of Greater Washington has ever received from a single community clothing drive. Goodwill uses the money from the sales of the clothes to fund job training and employment services for people with disadvantages and disabilities. According to Goodwill’s impact calculator, this drive will fund approximately 400 hours of employment programs for Washington-area residents.

“Many businesses recognize how important it is to be actively engaged in their community,” said Marcus Stephens, vice president of Repax, a local green business that is providing its reusable moving crates to collect clothes. “We have reached out to apartment buildings, office spaces, and yoga studios to serve as drop-off locations and the response has been tremendous.”

In addition to helping Goodwill fund its employment training programs, the clothing drive will also divert thousands of pounds of waste from ending up in landfills.

“People don’t always think of Goodwill as a green enterprise but it absolutely is,” said Ma, a long time Goodwill customer. “They give clothes a new life at an incredibly good price, and their selection is fantastic.”

“We are thrilled to see the community come together in support of our work,” said Brendan Hurley, vice president and chief marketing officer of Goodwill of Greater Washington. “For so many people, our specialized job training is invaluable, but we can’t do any of it without the support of the community.”

Residents interested in donating clothes for the drive can find a map of drop-off locations HERE

Drop off locations for the drive are also listed here:

• Art of Living Center: 2401 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

• Capitol Hill Bikes: 719 8th St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

• Live Green Office: 2452 18th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

• Amicus Green Building Center: 4080 Howard Ave, Kensington, MD. 20895

• That Yellow Gym: 3220 17th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20010 (in the Argyle Building)

• Chancellor’s Row Townhomes by EYA: Regent Place NE, Washington, D.C. 20017

• Capitol Quarter Townhomes by EYA: 1020 4th St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003

• Trohv: 232 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012