In Danville, on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut across from the David S. Palmer Arena, you will once again find THE GIVING FENCE helping to keep people warm this winter. Over a half-dozen years ago, the Education Personnel Federal Credit Union brought the idea to Danville, after seeing something similar in Bloomington.
Right along the fence at their drive-up facility, you can hang up jackets and coats you no longer need for someone who does need them. It’s give and receive anonymously, coming and going when you wish. As Education Personnel’s Carol Marx points out; some people leave hats and gloves, or even other special surprises, in plastic bags hung on the fence.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: People in the community have always just come out. They put out blankets sometimes; sometimes socks in addition to the jackets. And even today, we watched; as soon as they go up, they’re gone.
Marx says it always really gets going right around the Thanksgiving cold snap, and continues far into the winter, as long as donations keep coming.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: And we’ve done it, even through February, I would say; until the weather starts to get a little better. And the demand is out there.
The Giving Fence is located at the Main and Walnut drive-up facility, but Education Personnel Federal Credit Union’s main branch can be found at 1102 North Walnut in Danville.
