WESTFIELD — The Westfield Area YMCA will hold a Clothing and Donation Drive on Wednesday, October 23. Anyone with clothing or other permitted items they wish to donate are invited to drop them off at the Robert and Virginia Bauer Family Branch YMCA, located at 422 East Broad Street, Westfield.

The drop-off window is from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the facility. Donations will only be accepted during these hours. Accepted items include clothing, shoes (must be bagged separately), belts, handbags, comforters, sheets, curtains, towels, bedding, stuffed animals, small toys (two feet or less), bikes, scooters and strollers.

Pots and pans, books, board games, sports equipment, electronics, glass, furniture, VCR tapes, outdoor playsets or appliances cannot be accepted.

All items are collected by the A & E Clothing Corporation, which gathers second-hand clothing and other items and resells them in the United States and to developing countries.

Proceeds from this drive benefit the Strong Kids+ Annual Support Campaign, which ensures that no one who is experiencing a bona fide financial hardship and lives or works in Westfield, Cranford, Garwood or Mountainside is turned away for inability to pay for Y programs and memberships. The majority of awards enable participation in the Y’s early-learning, school-age, and summer day-camp programs.

For more information, contact Eileen Rooney at erooney@westfieldynj.org.

The nonprofit Y is committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Financial assistance is available forYMCAprograms and memberships for those who qualify. For information on all Westfield Area YMCA programs and services, visit www.westfieldynj.org or call the Welcome Center at (908) 301-YMCA (9622).