Angela Brandt
Havre Daily News
abrandt@havredailynews.com
One night about four years ago, Patty Brannigan asked God for guidance in helping her community of Havre. The next morning she awoke, went to her closet, took out the clothes she no longer wore, hung them on her front yard fence and put up a sign informing passersby that the clothing was free for the taking.
Since then, her effort has grown from her own clothes to donations from others including clothes, furniture and housewares.
“I think it's God's will that we should all share with each other - if we all did this no one would ever want for anything,” she said.
As of Tuesday, the sign on the fence reads “fence closed, no donations.”
Brannigan, 58, who has lived in Havre for 33 years, said she can no longer keep up the donation fence. She needs the time she spent on the fence to care for her mother.
Brannigan said she will not continue with the fence at a later date because “there will be some other calling.”
The last of the donated items are still available on the fence on the 400 block of 14th Ave.
Brannigan awoke one morning in March to find about 100 pieces of clothing taken from her fence. She said that she couldn't really consider it stealing because everything was free for whomever wanted or needed it.
She quickly replenished the clothing supply later that morning and returned to business as usual.
Brannigan said she wants to thank the community for its support over the years. She said that although she has received negative reactions to her efforts, the majority of remarks were positive.
