Annual veterans clothing drive underway in Weirton

WEIRTON - An annual effort to lend some aid to local veterans is continuing this week.

The 12th-annual Bob Busch Memorial Veterans Clothing Drive is underway at the Millsop Community Center, with donations of new or gently used clothing being accepted through Friday.

Parks Executive Director Coty Shingle said the average person may not realize there are veterans in the community who have difficulty getting some of their basic needs, such as warm clothing, met.

"We take that for granted," Shingle said.

Gently used clothing items, packed in bags or boxes, can be delivered to the main desk area of the Millsop Center through Friday. Officials noted, of particular need are donations of new socks, something Busch always requested, as well as new undergarments.

The effort is named in memory of Busch, a Navy veteran who launched the clothing drive through the Millsop Community Center and ran it until his death in 2020.

In the years since, it has been carried on by center staff led by employee Ron Spencer, an Army veteran who shared in Busch's passion to help others who served their nation in the military.

"It's for the veterans," Spencer said. "The ones that are here, and the ones who aren't"

Following the collection, a veterans clothing shop will be set up from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, where area veterans showing their military identification may choose items from the donated clothing at no charge.

Spencer organizes the clothing shop so items can easily be found by gender and type of clothing items.

Once the shop is finished, any remaining clothing items will be taken to sites throughout the Tri-State Area where they can be distributed to other veterans in the region.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)