Broadway Green Alliance Hosts Spring Textile Collection Drive in Times Square Today

The Broadway Green Alliance (BGA) is sponsoring a textile drive for the theater industry and fans today, April 23rd from 11:00am - 2:00pm in Duffy Square at 46th Street and Broadway. The collection drive is open to all shows, theaters, industry members and fans.

Past textile drive efforts garnered donations from the casts and crew of over 20 shows, numerous costume shops and theater related businesses, and theater patrons on their way to Wednesday matinees. The efforts yielded 1750 pounds of materials.

Accepted items include: all used and clean clothing including shoes, handbags, belts, hats; and household and backstage items including curtains, linens, and towels. Carpeting is not accepted. New this year: there will be a separate shoe collection in Duffy Square at the same time for paired shoes and sneakers in any condition.

Wearable Collections, a clothing recycling company, will repurpose or recycle 96% of all donations, and will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Broadway Green Alliance to aid in the BGA's efforts to make Broadway greener. Although the BGA will not be distributing receipts for tax deductions, the IRS will allow donators to claim up to $500 worth of clothing donations without a receipt.

"At BGA we want to give members of the theater community the opportunity to keep tons of used costumes, towels, sheets and other textiles out of landfills," says BGA coordinator Rebekah Sale. "This year we have partnered again with Wearable Collections, a company that has diverted over 2 million pounds of textiles. With their help, we are continuing to keep Broadway green."

Industry members unable to attend the event are welcome to drop off their textiles at the following locations: TWU Local 764 at 545 West 45th Street, Actors' Equity Association at 1560 Broadway, or the BGA office, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1312.