Students in St. Clair College are gathering up coats, sweaters and other warm clothing to help share some warmth and dignity this coming winter.
Students from the Protection, Security and Investigation and Police Foundations Society are hosting a clothing drive just outside the cafeteria at Main Windsor Campus this week and next to support Street Help of Windsor.
“It started with a simple class assignment. We were tasked with finding a volunteer opportunity and making a presentation on it,” said Jeremiah Garcia, a first-year Protection, Security and Investigation (PSI) student. “And it went from that, to let's do as much as we can for the community with this.”
Garcia, along with classmate Kevin Siwczyk connected with Street Help and launched the clothing drive to collect items such as jackets, hoodies, pants, socks, gloves, hats and scarves to help prepare Windsor’s unhoused population with some warm garments ahead of the winter season.
“It feels really good. I always like to help people, but doing something in a way where we can impact the actual lives of people – it may seem small, giving someone a piece of clothing, but it feels very fulfilling,” Garcia said.
Students have already collected about 100 items, hoping to hit a goal of 150 clothing items to donate.
Siwzcyk says the programs put an emphasis on community work and giving back, and this is just another example.
“Ever since I got into the program, I started showing up and volunteering as much as I can and just trying to improve myself to become a better person in the future when it comes to a future career in policing,” said Siwczyk. “And then when you start doing it, it kind of gets contagious.”
Students will be in the alcoves at the cafeteria Friday, Oct. 23 from 2-4 p.m., and again on Oct. 28 at 2 p.m.
“I'm very excited and I can't wait to be able to see all the fruits of our labour come together,” added Garcia.
