News Release
For Immediate Release: 2.20.26
Contact: Natalie Konstans, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4453
Texas Court Protects Local Clothing Ministry from City’s Attempt to Render it Ineffective
District Court issued permanent injunction blocking City from hindering nonprofit’s clothing donation collection.
Fort Worth, TX—The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a permanent injunction enjoining the City of Mansfield from using zoning ordinances to restrict Christian nonprofit, Arms of Hope, from placing clothing donation bins in convenient, popular locations. The City of Mansfield previously applied an ordinance which limited donation bins to industrial areas only, places virtually unreachable and unfindable by everyday donors. First Liberty Institute and the law firm Copilevitz, Lam & Raney, P.C. represent Arms of Hope.
You can read the opinion here.
Hiram Sasser, Executive General Counsel at First Liberty Institute said, “It’s unthinkable that the City of Mansfield would target an organization that helps its most vulnerable citizens. We are grateful that the court recognized the City’s clear discrimination against Arms of Hope, and protected this meaningful ministry.”
“Religious organizations should not be punished for wanting to help those in need,” stated Karen Donnelly, Partner at Copilevitz, Lam & Raney, P.C. “We are thrilled that Arms of Hope can now freely carry out their mission and serve their local community without hinderance from the City.”
According to today’s opinion, “The zoning provision, setback restrictions, and location-on-lot restrictions fail intermediate scrutiny by burdening substantially more speech than is necessary to achieve the City’s stated interests and unconstitutionally violate Plaintiff’s First Amendment right to speak.”
Arms of Hope, a Christian non-profit organization, has worked to provide a safe, nurturing environment for disadvantaged children, youth, and families for over 100 years. As an organization that does not receive funding from the government, Arms of Hope relies upon the generous giving of churches, organizations, businesses, and individuals for resources and financial support. One of the ways in which they receive this support is through clothing donations. For many years, designated, free-standing “donation bins,” which serve as an easy and convenient spot for people to drop off their donation items, have been placed in parking lots of churches or local shopping centers. However, in 2025, the City of Mansfield used zoning ordinances to purposefully restrict Arms of Hope from placing donation bins in places where people can easily access and drop off donated clothes, effectively cancelling their clothing donation ministry. Now, the District Court’s permanent injunction enjoins the City from targeting Arms of Hope’s ministry efforts by unconstitutionally limiting donation boxes.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Natalie Konstans at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
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