East St. Louis civic group leader wants two suits in every man’s closet
A maze of suits fills the gymnasium as volunteers prepare for the “Men Helping Men” suit & clothing giveaway this Saturday in East St. Louis.
“We say at least every man should have at least two suits in their closet. We don’t know the day, the time or the hour that you need that suit,” says Sylvester “Sunshine” Lee, founder and executive director of the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center.
In 2021 the group served 468 men, and this will be the third event held this year.
The Male Involvement Group has been making a mark in the community for over a decade. Together with The Sunshine Cultural Arts Center, they work to get young men involved in the community. The suit and clothing giveaway is just one of the ways they hope to be a positive influence on their lives.
All men are invited to come out and pick out a suit or two, tie, shirt and blazer at their event on Saturday..
It’s about bringing unity to the community.
“We just want to encourage them that they can always come to the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center and get something new, something fresh. Maybe not just clothing, but we try to deposit something in their head,” Lee said. “As I say to the men, ‘If we can bring your head up, I ain’t got to tell you to pull your pants up, because we have put something in your head, that makes you feel good about yourself, that you will pull your pants up. ‘
“It’s about a learning pattern down here, in which we try to bring unity to the community.”
The ``Men Helping Men” suit and clothing giveaway is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center, 630 N. 59th Street, East St. Louis.
It is sponsored by the 15th Street Baptist Church, the Male Involvement Group, and Sunshine Cultural Arts Center. Suit donations came from Jos. A. Bank.
Monetary donations to support the Sunshine Cultural Arts Center and their programs can be made through http://www.sunshineculturalartscenter.com/home.html
This story was originally published October 28, 2022 at 11:53 AM.