With the recent plunge in temperatures, Moscow Cares, the charitable group, is stepping up its clothes collection campaign. "We'll take anything as long as it is in reasonably good condition," said Michael Roberts, a member of the Moscow Cares steering committee who is coordinating the clothing drive. "We are not that picky, but we're not looking for ripped jeans."


The clothes are given to the Moscow orphanages or to the United Way, which, in turn, passes them along to needy Muscovites.


Volunteers will pick up the clothes and take them to a collection point -- Roberts' apartment.


"Ex-pats are always coming and going, so we thought that people would rather give away their clothes than take them back," said Roberts, a tax consultant with KPMG in Moscow.


Moscow Cares, a volunteer organization formed seven months ago, is also looking for volunteers to help chaperone children from an orphanage to see a Moscow dolphin show.


To donate clothing or volunteer generally, call the Moscow Cares 24-hour hotline at 241-6810. During the day, messages should be left on the answering machine.