News

Harvest Christian Wins Clothing Drive November 14, 2013

Local businesses and organizations joined forces to collect 34,093 pounds of clothing for the 2013 FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Clothing Drive that will benefit the Goodwill Industries of El Paso and local charities.

“We are appreciative for the support we received from the local community in this year’s clothing drive,” said Ruben Batista, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of El Paso, Inc. “The generosity of the El Paso and Las Cruces communities will go a long way to support the benefitting charities.”

For the second consecutive year, Harvest Christian Center was the top contributor to the clothing drive by collecting the most pounds of clothing and will be awarded a prebuilt Thanksgiving parade float.

FirstLight Federal Credit Union members and employees collected over 5,200 pounds of clothing to help support the clothing drive as the major sponsor of the Thanksgiving Day parade.

“The clothing drive provides an opportunity for local businesses and members of the community to come together to support El Paso and Las Cruces, said Karl Murphy, President and CEO of FirstLight Federal Credit Union. “We are extremely grateful for all the support that has been provided and I would like to express thanks to all those who have participated in this event. FirstLight Federal Credit Union is excited about the opportunity to give back to the community through our clothing drive again this year.”

This is the fourth year FirstLight Federal Credit Union, the Sun Bowl Association, the YMCA and Goodwill Industries of El Paso have teamed up to give the annual Thanksgiving parade, now in its 77th year anniversary, a way to give back to the community that has made the parade the most attended event in the Sun City.

In addition to awarding a prebuilt float to Harvest Christian Center, two organizations will be given a chance to participate in the Thanksgiving day parade. The St. Patrick’s Cathedral School and Western Technical College all collected over 2,500 pounds of clothing.

Collections from the Clothing Drive are valued using a predetermined formula. Goodwill Industries will distribute $1,120 in vouchers to each of the following El Paso and Southern New Mexico charities as a result of this successful clothing drive:
• La Casa in Las Cruces
• El Paso Armed Services YMCA
• American Red Cross El Paso Chapter
• Lee and Beulah Moor Children’s Home
• Project BRAVO

The vouchers are to be used by clients of these charities to purchase personal goods from Goodwill stores.

The 77th Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is Thursday, November 28 at 10 a.m. The parade route runs along Montana Avenue beginning at Ochoa Street and ending at Copia Street. Review stand tickets for the parade can be purchased at any FirstLight Federal Credit Union branch, Circle K store locations or at the Sun Bowl Association office for $5.

This year’s parade theme is “Memorable Moments in Entertainment”. Former World Boxing Association Light Middleweight Boxing Champion, Austin Trout will serve as grand marshal of the parade.

Clothing is still being collected to support the clothing drive effort throughout the holiday season at all Goodwill locations.

Complete list of participating businesses and organizations:
Sun Bowl Association
First Light Federal Credit Union
YMCA
Goodwill
Armed Services YMCA
La Casa
Lee & Beulah Moor Children’s Home
Project BRAVO
Chase Bank
Colonial Insurance
CEA Group
David L Carrasco Job Corps Center
Western Tech College
Radisson Hotel
Rio Bravo Title
Camino Real Middle School
Helen of Troy
Logan Elementary School
Desert Eagle Productions Dance Studio
Harvest Christian Center
El Paso Times
South Loop Elementary School
Altep Inc.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral School
Fred Loya Insurance
William Beaumont Army Medical Center