WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA -- The city of West Hollywood will host its fifth annual clothing drive for the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Youth Center on Highland in January. The New Year is a perfect time to clean out your closet and lend a helping hand. Clothing and accessories that are in good condition and personal hygiene items are needed. All items collected will be distributed to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in need.

Many youths at the Youth Center do not have warm winter clothing, nor do they have professional clothing for job interviews or to sustain employment. The Center is in greatest need of shoes (men's size 7 to 13, women's size 6 to 12, tied together), jeans (all adult sizes), jackets, backpacks, new packages of socks and underwear, and travel-size hygiene items (toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, shaving items, etc.) Dress pants, shirts, suits, belts, and casual clothing are also appreciated, as are gift cards for stores such as Target in any denomination to purchase items for interviews - please be sure to write the dollar value on gift cards. The city of West Hollywood will be accepting items in collection bins at West Hollywood City Hall, located at 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard, from Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, until Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017. Gift cards can be left with staff members in the city's Social Services Division on the 3 floor of City Hall. Validated parking for West Hollywood City Hall is available in the automated parking garage behind City Hall off of N. Sweetzer Avenue and there is a loading area for quick drop-offs.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center's Youth Center on Highland responds to the essential needs of LGBT youth, thousands of whom find themselves without a home or support. The Youth Center is a safe, welcoming place that connects youth with essential services, educational, and employment opportunities. It also helps them prepare resumes and develop employment interviewing skills. For more information about the Los Angeles LGBT Center's Youth Center on Highland, please visit www.lalgbtcenter.org/social-service-and-housing/youth. The city of West Hollywood has a deep commitment to providing social services to community members-in-need and to improving the quality of life. During its 32-year history, the City has provided millions of dollars in grants to fund programs that include services for seniors; people with HIV and AIDS; members of the LGBT community; people with disabilities; alcohol and drug use recovery programs; support programs for Russian-speaking immigrants; services for people who are homeless; food programs; and health care services for people who are uninsured. Today, the city's Social Services Division budgets approximately $5 million per year to support programs that impact thousands of people in West Hollywood. For more information about the City of West Hollywood's Social Services Division, visit www.weho.org/wehocares or, on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/wehocares.