Seized counterfeit clothes donated

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October 22, 2011

E St. Mary's Mission Center recipient of US Customs seizure

CASEY RYAN VOCK Press-Republican The Press Republican Sat Oct 22, 2011, 03:40 PM EDT

CHAMPLAIN — A shipment of counterfeit women's clothing will help the St. Mary's Mission Center support needy families in the North Country and beyond.

Donated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Field Operations, the 2,300 pieces of clothing were seized in July 2010 after Customs and Border Protection Officers and Import Specialists targeted a shipment of women's clothing.

IMPROVING LIVES

Mission Director Fred Stone said redirecting the items would help the Mission Center achieve its goal of supporting families in and around the North Country and providing assistance to victims of national disasters throughout the country. "We look forward to working with Customs and Border Protection and getting items into the hands of the people that will get the most use from them and save valuable items from being relinquished to a landfill without a chance to improve the lives of some unfortunate people," he said.

FAKE TRADEMARKS

The shipment, which had been destined for Hollywood, Fla., was found to contain clothing with counterfeit trademarks, making it subject to seizure.

After the clothing was confiscated, the Fines, Penalties & Forfeitures Office requested permission from the trademark holder to donate the clothing to charity.

The clothing, including jeans and casual dress pants for young women, otherwise would have been disallowed into commerce and likely would have been destroyed.

"I'd hate to see something languish in the landfill when we have people who need it," Stone said. "You wouldn't believe how tough it's getting around here for people. I see it when I spend a day in the thrift shop. What bothers me the most is that I see kids who don't have what they need."

COMMON GOOD

Champlain Area Port Director Paul Stephan Mongillo said in a news release that the donation offered a chance for Customs and Border Protection to get involved in helping people in need in the local community and anywhere else it's needed.

"It's always nice when all parties get together for the common good and find ways to ensure that those in need will truly be helped out — not only for those in the North Country, but others from around the United States that suffer through disasters, as well," Mongillo said.

Some of the items are being sold at the center's thrift shop at what Stone considers "very reasonable" prices.

The Mission Center works closely with the Champlain branch of JCEO to identify local people with certain needs. Through a voucher system, disadvantaged families and individuals identified by the organizations are able to obtain some clothing items at no cost.

HELPING JOPLIN

Some of the clothing, Stone said, has been earmarked for inclusion in the center's regular shipments to Joplin, Mo., a city left in devastation after a tornado tore through in May and killed more than 160 people.

After the tornado, the center was contacted to assist with donations to Joplin. A truck was sent to Champlain and picked up some of the donated goods.

STORAGE

For now, most of the clothing donated by Customs and Border Protection is in storage in New Jersey, where it was taken after the seizure.

The center works with Esposito & Sons Freight Lines to transport the clothing to Champlain or elsewhere.

"It's coordinated between three or four agencies to be able to get this stuff where it needs to go," Stone said.

PUSHING FOR USE

The donation is Customs and Border Protection's second to the center in the last year. In fall 2010, the agency donated a seized shipment of children's clothing, including shirts and pants bearing images of characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Tweety Bird and Sylvester.

"We wouldn't get it if it wasn't for the people at Homeland Security," Stone said. "They push to get it used in some way, rather than just destroyed. I have to take my hat off to them."