The Rosslyn Business Improvement District (BID) is helping the homeless by providing them clothing shed by Marine Corps Marathon runners during the first mile of the 33rd annual race.

As the 30,000 runners ran through Rosslyn on October 26 and began to warm-up, many discarded hats, gloves, sweatshirts, pants, and other items throughout the BID. The Rosslyn BID Ambassadors collected 468 pounds of clothing that will be "re- run" on people in need. The BID is paying for the clothing to be cleaned by JS Metro Cleaners above the Rosslyn Metro.

Once all 753 pieces are laundered they will be delivered to Arlington Street People's Assistance Network (A-SPAN) so the clothing can be distributed. A-SPAN Executive Director Kathleen Sibert notes that the donation comes at an important time. "A- SPAN welcomes this timely donation from the Rosslyn BID because the number of people A-SPAN serves is rising dramatically during this very tough economic downturn. Thank you to the runners and to this innovative recycling of discarded clothes to A-SPAN by the Rosslyn BID," says Sibert.

The Rosslyn BID has a five-year partnership with A-SPAN, funding an outreach worker to help transition homeless persons off the streets. Rosslyn BID Executive Director Cecilia Cassidy says giving the discarded marathon clothing new owners is just the first step Rosslyn is taking this fall to help the homeless. "On November 24 A-SPAN and the Rosslyn BID will join forces again to collect warm winter clothing in collection boxes placed throughout Rosslyn. This gives residents and workers the chance to build on what Marine Corps Marathon runners have already done, help clothe people in need," says Cassidy.

That clothing drive ends December 4 at the LIGHT UP Rosslyn, Light Up a Life Ceremony where the Rosslyn skyline lights are turned on signaling the beginning of the holiday season.