A ‘bigger purpose’ drives donation effort

The local organization United We Serve is collecting winter clothing items through Friday, Feb. 28, including coats, sweaters, gloves, socks, scarves, hats and business suits.

Donations can be dropped off at the Cambridge Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center chapel.

“It is amazing to see how we can all work together for one cause,” said Saima Bhutta, founder of United We Serve. “And that cause is humanity, and that is my biggest cause. The goal is to reach individuals who really need it.”

United We Serve began during COVID, when Bhutta and her family decided they wanted to help others. Since then, it has donated health-care items like masks and gloves to local schools and organizations, and has held different events and drives to help others, including winter clothing and turkey drives.

“It all stemmed from my working in this county for such a long time and working with patients,” explained Bhutta, who spent seven years as a care provider for homebound patients, “and finding out what the needs of the people are. I had an idea in my mind already that the people who live in certain areas and certain locales have (certain) needs.”

All donations will go to Imperfect Village, a nonprofit whose vision is to create a world where everyone has access to the support services they need to thrive. Its goal is to empower individuals and families to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

“Our small nonprofit can do something for a bigger purpose, by collecting these items and making sure that they’re delivered to people at the right time that they need it,” Bhutta noted.

For more information on the clothing drive, or to volunteer, visit the United We Serve Facebook page.