From now through Dec. 15, Kent State University is collecting clean, gently used or new items of warm clothing for all ages, including coats, hats, gloves, scarves and sweaters, as part of its Winter Coat and Clothing Drive.
Melanie Knowles, manager of sustainability for Kent State, said the annual coat and clothing drive is sponsored by numerous university departments to help students and serve the Kent community, too.
Aside from being given to students, collected clothing is distributed to the Portage County Clothing Center to help the needy in the Kent area.
“From a sustainability perspective, a lot of textiles never make it into recycling. They end up in a landfill,” Knowles said. “So this is a way for us to divert usable winter clothing to people who can use it, but also, we care about people in our community, and if we have the ability to help fill a need for warm clothing, we want to do that.”
To donate, look for large boxes with Winter Coat and Clothing Drive signs at these locations:
- Center for Undergraduate Excellence, first floor, Room 151
- Design Innovation Hub, second-floor lobby
- University Library, first-floor lobby
- Memorial Athletic and Convocation (MAC) Center, main lobby
- Schwartz Center, second floor, Room 261, Career Exploration and Development
- Tri-Towers, front desk lobby
- Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center, lobby outside of the Well Hub
- Williamson House, first floor, front desk lobby
Those in need of warm clothing should visit the Winter Warm-Up Stations at these locations to find coats and other clothing items:
- Williamson House
- Kent Student Center, first floor, outside Room 106
Knowles said the Warm-Up Stations will remain open through the winter should the need for warm clothing arise for anyone.
The Winter Coat and Clothing Drive is coordinated by Kent State's CARES Center, Career Exploration and Development, Community Engaged Learning, Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, Design Innovation, LaunchNET, Kent State of Well-Being, Office of Sustainability, the Women's Center and University Housing in collaboration with Kent Interhall Council Eco-Reps.
In 2022, more than 300 pounds of clothing were collected and distributed to the Portage County Clothing Center, and more than 200 items were given away at Winter Warm-Up Stations on campus.
WRITTEN BY: LISA ABRAHAM