BY CASSIDEY KAVATHAS, NEWS EDITOR
The Franciscan Center of Social Concern, Residential education and High Education Opportunity Program joined forces for Clare’s coats drive. Donations of winter coats, hats, gloves and other winter gear will be accepted from now until Oct. 18.
This drive is a first of its kind. If this year goes well FCSC, Res. life and HEOP hope to make this a yearly tradition. Donations can be dropped off in bins in the Admissions Building, University Ministries and Reilly Center room 219.
“This particular coat drive is new but there have been similar coat drives in the past.” said Maddie Young, The HEOP Associate Director “I think it really aligns with our Franciscan tradition of caring for those in our community, especially those that need our help!”
The donations will be made available for the campus community Oct. 18 and 19 in Reilly Center room 219. People can pick up coats and other winter gear Oct. 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
“The initial focus is on Bonaventure community members, including students and staff, who need a winter coat,” said Young. “Any coats that aren’t picked for a new home will be donated to Goodwill.”
Many people from outside the area have not experienced a Western New York winter and face the elements for the first time on campus.
“A lot of times, students from New York City don’t really understand how cold it gets in Western New York. Maggie Young has a lot of students who come from the New York City area and so we just want to, so we pulled her into it, because she gets it,” said Alice Miller-Nation, Director of the FCSC “Western New York, winters are cold. it’s not the temperature that makes it so bad, it’s the wind.”
If students can’t donate winter gear, FCSC, Res. life and HEOP are looking for volunteers to help with the sorting and distribution of the coats on Oct. 18 and 19. If you are interested in volunteering reach out to Miller-Nation through anation@sbu.edu.
“I hope this event, and ones similar to it, continue to happen each year so we make sure that members of our community, both students and staff, are cared for.” said Young
While students go home for midterm break, they should look through their closets for winter gear that they are not using to donate to help the campus community.
“It’s all about the student experience, and making sure our students can have everything they need to succeed,” said Miller-Nation “Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure they have a really good winter coat and gloves and hats.”
Kavathcj20@bonaventure.edu
