During Thanksgiving break, students may indulge in extra sleep, spend quality time with family, and hopefully tidy up their closets for clothing to donate to the annual Friends of Rachel coat drive!
Each year, the Friends of Rachel club collaborates with the Salvation Army to assist families in need by organizing a winter wear drive.
Friends of Rachel president, senior Avery Thibado, speaks on the importance of students donating.
“Many people in our town either don’t have access to or can’t buy new winter clothes, forcing them to rely on old coats and other articles to keep warm,” said Thibado. “By people bringing in their old winter clothes, even if it is just one coat or a pair of mittens, that’s one more newer piece of clothing that they didn’t have before. It’s a great way for people to make an impact on the community without having to go out to a big event, and it’s a great way to not waste good pieces of clothing.”
In the past, the donations consisted of hats, gloves, coats, and jackets, with hundreds of items being collected. These donations are then given directly to those who require them by the Salvation Army.
The club’s mission is fulfilled by the coat drive, which enables students to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others through kind gestures.
“I think Friends of Rachel makes a huge impact by doing a coat drive annually,” said Thibado. There are probably other businesses in the community that do this, but we encourage kids to reach out to their parent’s jobs as well as in the school, so our reach expands all around Ridgecrest. I think it’s a great way for anyone to make a difference during the holidays since anyone can participate, and hopefully we can collect as much if not more this year than last year!”
Students can bring their winter wear collections to any classroom of their choice, the front office, or Mrs. Rosenberg’s office. The collection ends Wednesday, Dec. 13.
