Public Defender’s Office holds clothing drive for needy clients

The last thing you want to be wearing when you show up for drug court is a shirt that declares how much you love marijuana, which is why the Orange-Osceola Public Defender’s Office has its own clothing closet for clients who may not have access to appropriate attire for court.

However, that closet needs replenishing. The office is holding its annual drive next week to “collect clean, gently worn professional and business-casual clothes,” according to a press release. Last year, the Public Defender’s Office collected 10,000 garments. 

“The donated items help to maintain the dignity of court proceedings and ensure that the lack of proper attire does not affect the outcome of cases,” the release says. 

Public Defender Robert Wesley and his staff will be accepting clothing donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in front of the Orange County Courthouse. The office needs suits, dress shirts, career dresses, casual slacks and short-sleeve shirts, for men, women and children of all sizes. People who can’t make it on Dec. 5 but would still like to donate can call 407-836-4806. 

This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2015.