You are here

Chicago Homeless Helped by Lapels of Wilmette

Winter Gear Drive that ended in January provided clothing for more than 2,000 in need

HANOVER, Mass. — Lapels Dry Cleaning of Wilmette, Ill., located at 819 Ridge Road, notes that in January it concluded a successful Winter Gear Drive to benefit Connections for the Homeless and the people it works with in the greater Chicagoland area.

Starting on December 20 and running through January 15, this cleaners accepted donations of new and lightly used winter gear. Items accepted included: men’s and women’s winter coats, hats, and gloves, it relates.

“We’re coming up on our one year anniversary as a Lapels Dry Cleaning store. So, we wanted to do something special,” says Fahim Zuberi, owner. “I can’t think of anything better than partnering with Connections for the Homeless to help provide some warmth to the homeless people in the communities they serve.”

Connections for the Homeless serves 2,100 people annually in 52 Chicagoland communities. Those services include drop-in day-time shelters, overnight shelter, housing, eviction prevention and advocacy.

This Lapels cleaned all the clothing collected, which will be dispersed among people utilizing Connections for the Homeless services, it adds.

“Congratulations to Fahim and the folks at Connections for the Homeless on this very successful drive,” notes Kevin Dubois, CEO of Lapels and co-author of Entrepreneurial Insanity in the Dry Cleaning Business. “As one of our newer owners and first in Illinois, we commend Fahim on his efforts.”

Hail Khalaf and Fahim Zuberi

Hail Khalaf, on left, volunteer coordinator for Connections for the Homeless, and Fahim Zuberi, owner of Lapels Dry Cleaning of Wilmette, stand in front of items donated for the Winter Gear Drive back at the end of January. (Photo by: Lapels Dry Cleaning)

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Dave Davis at [email protected].