Donation center in El Mirage hurt by cold weather; center to be closed for weeks

EL MIRAGE, AZ - A store that gives clothes to the needy is in need of help after this week's cold snap.

Freezing temperatures caused two copper pipes to burst in the stores attic sending rain showers onto all the clothes and carpet down below.

"We're out of business," said The Clothing Store CEO Chick Klein.

The store he runs out of a small building in a Peoria neighborhood has put clothes on the backs of 27,000 poor people in three years according to Klein. But the handful of racks with clothes are soaked and barely worth saving.

The store survives on donations and volunteers, and has already gotten word from local churches that more help will be in the way. It will take newly donated clothes, different carpet and maybe the demolition of a few water soaked walls. Chick hopes in the long run this mini flood will be a blessing in disguise.

"We are going to open up the place, get new windows, bring in some light, who knows what will happen. Onward and upward."

If you would like to donate to The Clothing Store you can email: info@theclothingshop.org for more information.