PACOIMA : An Expanded, Reorganized MEND Reopens

The clothing center run by the Pacoima community service group MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) is back in business after a monthlong hiatus.

The center, at 13460 Van Nuys Blvd., reopened Monday after being closed due to staff turnover, said MEND Executive Director Marianne Haver Hill.

“We thought it was a good time to close it and clean it out,” Haver Hill said. “We’ve reorganized, expanded, added a children’s play area, repainted . . . just to make it an inviting and cheerful place for people to come in.”

Residents of Pacoima, San Fernando, Sylmar, Lake View Terrace, Arleta, Mission Hills and North Hills who are trying to survive on little or no income are welcome to visit the center once a month for a free bag of clothes, which they choose themselves.

Before closing, the center served an average of 30 families per day, Haver Hill said. The expansion will make it possible to serve up to 50 per day.

“All of the clothes donated are sorted and we put out only things that are clean and in good condition,” said Haver Hill. Most of the items are used, but occasionally new items with slight flaws are donated.

“We always welcome that and our recipients love to have them too,” Haver Hill said.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

MEND is also conducting its annual “New Shoes for School” drive, which solicits donations of new shoes and sneakers from church congregations, businesses and other community groups.

The shoes must be closed-toed, due to Los Angeles Unified School District regulations, Haver Hill said.

Last year, the program was able to fill 1,000 of the 1,500 requests that it received for shoes.