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Seniors could cozy up to new sleepwear

Each week until Dec. 24, Style & Soul will list some charitable agencies that need your help or donations.

Each week until Dec. 24, Style & Soul will list some charitable agencies that need your help or donations.

Rita Ungaro Schiavone of Northeast Phildelphia is 74 now, and has trouble getting around. But in 1974, when she was much more spry, Schiavone helped found

Aid for Friends

to serve frail seniors who are homebound in the five-county Philadelphia area.

With help from 16,000 volunteers, Aid for Friends delivers free home-cooked meals to elderly shut-ins. Individuals or organizations help by cooking extra portions at home; visiting shut-ins and delivering meals once a week; or by making donations.

Schiavone says many shut-ins need new bedding and sleepwear, but will not ask for that directly.

"Sheets and pillows and housecoats are the last things they'll spend what little money they have on," Schiavone says. "And yet these are some of their most heavily used items."

Particularly needed are new standard-size nonallergenic bed pillows and covers, standard-size sheets, bath towels, size 3x and 4x cotton housecoats for women, size 3x and 4x robes and pajamas for men, and slippers or nonslip socks for men and women.

Aid for Friends

12271 Townsend Rd.

Philadelphia 19154-1288

215-464-2224

» READ MORE: www.aidforfriends.org

Greater Philadelphia Cares

is sponsoring a winter coat drive now through Jan. 19 in conjunction with area retailers and the St. Vincent DePaul Society.

Donors may drop off new or gently used coats at any of 18 locations listed at

» READ MORE: www.gpcares.com

.

Meanwhile, people who need coats for themselves or their children should call Greater Philadelphia Cares at 215-564-4544 and receive a voucher to select a coat of their choice at a St. Vincent DePaul Society location.

Coats in all sizes from infant through adult are needed, says Renee Archawski, program director, and groups at offices, churches or synagogues are invited to conduct drives and drop off coats in bulk. Contact

» READ MORE: volunteer@gpcares.com

or 215-564-4544.

To donate new or gently used coats in New Jersey, contact

United Way of Camden County

, at 196 Newton Ave., Camden, N.J. 08103, or at 856-963-2720 or uwccnj.org.