MOUNT GILEAD — The Clothes Closet was chosen as the 2020 recipient of the Dr. Nathan Tucker Award.
The award is presented every year to a person who “makes Mount Gilead a better place to live” through volunteer, professional and business activities and projects.
The Clothes Closet was founded in 1986 by the Little Prides and Joys Mother’s Club to provide clothing to Morrow County school children in need.
The project depends entirely upon the generosity and support of local individuals, churches, organizations and businesses for their success. The space they use was donated by Dr. Grant and Terry Galbraith.
The agency provides clothes for an average of 250 children each year. It began by serving 40-60 children. There is no paid staff.
Volunteers have spent countless hours organizing, purchasing, sorting items and scheduling youngsters for clothing. An estimated 24,000 jeans, tops and socks have been given away; along with 8,000 winter coats, hats and gloves/mittens.
Mayor Jamie Brucker and individual council members contributed $255 to the project. All donations go directly to the project.
Matt Griffith accepted the award prior to village council’s Dec. 7 meeting. He thanked the community for its generosity. His mother, Jane Griffith, is one of the project’s founders.
In other business:
• Village administrator Derek Allen made two staffing-related requests.
Sheri Likens will begin full-time duties with the village Jan. 1. She has worked five years part-time.
Also, Allen noted, “two village employees were under quarantine for 14 days due to their spouses testing positive and then they developed COVID-19.”
The federal government provided up to 80 yours of paid sick leave that is not charged to the employees’ existing sick time, he said. He requested council approve more than 80 hours of paid sick leave not charged to their sick leave balance.
Council approved both requests.
