CHAMPION - A Champion woman's desire that local women have clothing for jobs has blossomed into a program for the whole family.
Debi Hayes and Mary Saxon, who organize and run Rene's Clothes Closet, 5431 Mahoning Ave. N.W., said the idea came from their friend and fellow St. William Parish member Rene Marrangoni.
Marrangoni died at age 58 in 2006. She was active with several charities, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and St. Joseph Cancer Center of Warren.
"It was meant to mostly help women who were looking for jobs and needed dressier clothes to wear to work. Today we have clothes for men, women and children," Hayes said.
She said several volunteers from St. William Parish help with the program along with her husband, Paul.
Started in 2007, it is open the fourth Saturday of the month at the St. William Parish office.
Hayes said fliers are sent to Trumbull Children Services where many foster children need clothes. Also helped are Salvation Army and Someplace Safe.
The clothes closet has worked with a number of churches and receives clothing donations from community members.
"People have been very very generous and helped," she said.
Beth Orr of Champion said the program is ''wonderful in offering a service to those in the community.''
"People who I work with at a mental illness facility can benefit from getting clothes," Orr said.