Leadership Reno Sparks Mobilizes Local Non-Profit, Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet
Reno/Sparks, Nev. (October 22, 2014) – There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet’s new cargo van on Thursday, October 23 @ 3:45pm at 335 Record Street. Following the ribbon cutting, there will be an open house and tour of the facility.
Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet, GSCC, is a non-profit community service organization dedicated to providing clothing to at-risk individuals, children, and families in the greater Reno/Sparks area free of charge. GSCC is located on Record Street in downtown Reno. They were in need of a new van to use as a traveling “closet” to better serve community members who are unable to access the downtown location. “Our new van will allow us to take clothes into neighborhoods that need them and would significantly increase the number of people we are able to serve,”says GSCC Executive Director Chris Rhodes.
The Chamber’s Leadership Reno Sparks Program is in its 30th year. Every year, the Leadership Reno Sparks class tackles a special community project that engages participants in a real-world exercise that also helps build our community. “This year we chose Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet,” said Erin Jones of Hometown Health who served as the project co-chair. “Good Shepherd’s does so much for this community and now that they are mobile and have a new van, they will be able to serve so many more in need.”
Not only has the Class of 2014 completed rigorous course work, workshops, and community engagement events, but they have been deeply immersed in a class project working with the GSCC Closet. The class raised over $27,000 which was used to buy a van so GSCC could be mobile. Countless donations including clothes, blankets, shoes, and personal items were also gathered to assist in clothing our most at-risk population, the homeless in our community.
This project was strongly supported by the following: United Federal Credit Union, PK Electrical, Lumos and Associates, Silver State Barricade and Sign, The Applied Companies, KPS3, Benefit Resource Group, NV Energy, Donate Life Nevada, The Casey Family, The Motta/Nichols Family and NVHS class of 2004.
Applications for the Leadership Reno Sparks Class of 2015 are now being accepted. Interested parties can find the application on The Chamber’s website at www.TheChamberNV.org. For questions, contact Leslie Masterpool at LMasterpool@TheChamberNV.org or (775) 636-9559.
ABOUT LEADERSHIP RENO SPARKS PROGRAM
The mission of the leadership program is to develop and increase participant’s knowledge and awareness of local issues through education and community involvement. Participants spent much of the year connecting with community leaders and learning about strengths, challenges and issues facing the Reno, Sparks and Northern Nevada communities. The Leadership Reno Sparks (LRS) program is a comprehensive program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of issues and challenges facing our community, helping to prepare graduates to become stronger leaders. The vision is to be a highly valued and respected program recognized for the quality and diversity of its members, who remain committed to improving our region through ongoing education, awareness, and involvement. The program was launched in 1984 and has more than 1,000 alumni.
For more information about The Chamber, or its leadership programs, visit www.TheChamberNV.org.