Local residents asked to donate jeans to help missionary effort

Prescott resident Cheryl Leininger is asking local people if they can spare a pair a jeans.

In a mission effort to help missionaries in Guatemala and Honduras, in addition to families throughout the United States, Leininger is working with David Doss director of Maya-Mesoamerican Mission to collect jeans from area residents.

"Missions for Denim is a non-denominational ministry effort not only helping people here in the USA but also missions in Guatemala and Honduras," she said. "Her (Leininger) efforts are helping to support and supply the needs of the missionaries not affiliated with the churches form our immediate area."

Leininger said she is asking people in the local area who wish to participate in the program to drop off jeans at Stewart Realty during regular business hours. In order to help with the shipping costs of the jeans, participants are asked to place a $3 donation inside the pocket of each pair of jeans they donate, Leininger said.

According to Leininger, she hopes to have collected 1,000 pairs of jeans by the end of May. The jeans that are not sent to missionaries in other countries will be given to needy families in the United States.

"With the economy, people are in desperate need of clothing," Leininger said. "It's (jean drive) people helping people. There are people who are totally without work and families who are without homes.

Leininger added, in the United States, the jeans will most likely be distributed in areas of the country where many corporations have closed and the areas that have had the highest number of job lay-offs.

In addition to collecting jeans, the organization will also be collecting towels to make diapers and quilt batting and gingham material in order to make quilts for the homeless. Suitcases in good condition are also a necessity that is being collected, according to Leininger.

"People don't have anything to put their things in," she said. "The suitcases would be a little storage unit."

Leininger said she is also asking for monetary donations, which could be used to help cover shipping costs or be used to purchase clothing for children.

For more information, contact Leininger at coyote@ckt.net.