MARBLEHEAD — Over on the West Coast, residents of the Los Angeles area have lost everything in the wildfires raging throughout the region. To offer neighborly help from afar, Marblehead’s Pint Size and Up is collecting clothing and monetary donations for the victims.
Pint Size and Up is a specialty boutique with a mission to provide unusual quality gifts to people who love to give baby and children’s items. The store spent months searching for the perfect mixture of unique and adorable items that they are thrilled to share with the community.
Owner Ellen Turkanis came up with the idea to gather donations for those affected by the fires. They are collecting new and gently used clothing for children who have lost everything and are in dire need.
“I personally felt that we as a children’s store needed to do something to help families on the West Coast because we’re so lucky and privileged that nothing happened here,” Turkanis said.
The clothing donations will run for approximately another week. But Turkanis pointed out that while people have lost everything in the fires and need the clothes, they have nowhere to store them. And organizations could stop accepting clothes after a certain amount of time has passed.
The store wants to remind those who choose to donate that the climate in LA is different compared to Massachusetts. The clothes as a result do not need to be too heavy.
Monetary donations will go toward supporting the Baby2Baby nonprofit organization. It provides diapers, clothing, and all the basic necessities that every child deserves to children living in poverty.
Turkanis encourages people to donate to Baby2Baby whether or not it comes through Pint Size and Up. Anyone can visit their website to offer support: https://baby2baby.org
When asked how donations have been going, Turkanis said, “It’s been going great. We’ve gotten many, many people coming in with donations. We have bags and boxes kind of all over the store that we’re boxing up and going to send out immediately.”
Despite being unable to do much from the East Coast, every little bit helps, and it makes everyone feel good to help out those in need.
“We always have to help our neighbors,” Turkanis said.
