Catholic Social Services has partnered with Merchandise Pick-up Service (MPS) of St. Louis in "Collecting Clothing for a Cause"

MPS is dedicated to providing funding for non- profit  organizations through the collection and distribution of used clothing and household items. This is accomplished through four programs: Door to door pick-up service, clothing drop boxes, business clothing drives, and attended donation locations.

In the EPA Research in 2000 showed that as much as 85% of used textiles ends up in landfills. MPS is working to help correct this problem in our community while funding local non-profit organizations.

Catholic Social Services is benefiting from this partnership since we have two of the drop boxes whose income is committed to children's programs including the Don Bosco Children's Center. One of the boxes is located at our main building at 8601 West Main Street and the other is at the Don Bosco Center location at 900 Royal Heights Road.

Last year your clothing donations have allowed MPS to contribute over $22,000 to the Don Bosco Children's Center. By donating your used clothing through MPS you:

1. Help the environment.
2. Help provide jobs in our local area. (MPS employs over 80 full time and part time people).
3. Provide funding for children's programs including the Don Bosco Children's Center. The income provided to our children's programs has helped us carry out our agency objectives and through clothing donations you provide the necessary funding to carry out our work. We have been able to make the center a more pleasant environment for the children many of whom will stay with us for 12 –24 months, and have helped our adoption and counseling programs due to your donations.

MPS collects all clothing and household items which are then sold in bulk to thrift stores. These stores are all in the USA. The items that are accepted by MPS depend on the program you are participating in.  All of their programs accept: useable clothing of all types for men, women and children including hats, belts, shoes purses etc. and small household items such as blankets, linens, towels, pots, pans, toys.

MPS provides door to door pickup service to benefit the Don Bosco Children's Center (Illinois only). MPS operates a phone bank to inform donors when they will be in the area. Trucks are organized into routes on a rotating cycle. If interested you can get a copy of the schedule from their website: http://www.mpsstl.com/doorToDoor.htm. You will need to fill out the form and please select the Don Bosco Children's Home as your preferred charity. Alternatively, you can call (314) 416-1300 to schedule a pickup.

The Children at the Don Bosco Children’s Center thank you for your interest and participation!