Treasure Bay and Salvation Army teaming up for community clothing drive

BILOXI, Miss. (WXXV)- The Gulf Coast has a new opportunity to give back. Treasure Bay Casino and the Salvation Army are hosting a four-day clothing drive to support local families.

WXXV News 25’s Asia Ellis shows how the community is coming together to help those in need.

Bags of clothing, household goods, shoes, and furniture filled the Treasure Bay Casino parking lot. Community members donated items to support the Salvation Army’s efforts to help local families facing hardships. Treasure Bay Casino Hotel Director Matthew Ulm said, “I think that anyone who has lived on the Coast long enough knows what it’s like to need things. We’ve been through many storms and things like oil spills. So, there’s always someone in need here. This is an opportunity for all of us to come together with the things that we may not be using but could still be useful to other people.”

The donated items will stock the Salvation Army Family Store, where proceeds help fund local assistance programs while some items will be provided directly to people in need through the organization’s voucher program. Treasure Bay Casino President and COO Susan Varnes said, “As soon as I told our team that we were going to do this, they hopped on and said we’re going to volunteer, we’ll bring clothes, so that partnership means a lot to me personally. Just to know what it’s going to do for the community and the people that need it because Salvation Army had a real shortage of items. Between our team and our guests, I think we’re going to fill that truck over there.”

The clothing drive continues through Saturday, August 8 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, giving the community plenty of time to drop off donations or lend a helping hand as a volunteer.