The other day I was watching the news and I saw a feature story about a group of local teens that had organized a coat and blanket drive at their school. They had collected over 500 coats and blankets from individuals and local businesses and the news cameras were following them as they handed them out to homeless people living in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods. The kids were all smiles and it was infectious to watch. Along with the blankets they had put together care packages, again with donations they had collected, that included items like toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, matches, non-perishable foods and candy. They gave out large cups of hot chocolate as they handed out the goods and you could feel the good will coming through the TV screen. It was heart warming.
I decided to call the school these kids attend to congratulate them and ended up talking to one of the organizers. She told me that her school had been doing the drive for 4 years and that each year the donations grew. She mentioned that they had also donated nearly $500 cash to a local soup kitchen to help pay for the annual Christmas dinner. I was in awe. So I asked her how she did it, how they organized the drive and how much time it took. The answers surprised me. I had assumed they were canvassing all year but she told me that they collected their donations in less than 3 weeks. She shared their strategies with me in the hopes that I would rally the teens who use this site to do the same in their communities. So to be true to my word and in the spirit of the holiday season I’m going to suggest that you, Teen Advice user, organize your own coat drive using the tips that were given to me. Here they are:
- Use your school Parent’s Association (or your school’s equivalent) as a networking tool. Put out the call for new or lightly used coats and blankets in the Parent’s Association newsletter.
- Canvass ALL local businesses and tell them what you are doing. If they don’t have coats or blankets ask them for a cash donation or other useful items like those put in the care packages.
- Put together an information package to give to businesses. Include a brief outline of your goals, a history of your efforts or if it’s your first year describe what inspired you to organize the drive, and include a fact sheet about the homeless in your community and the unique hardships they suffer when the cold weather strikes.
- Align your efforts with a local church or other community service group. Get a letter of endorsement from that group and put it in your information package. If people or businesses aren’t comfortable giving cash to you have them write out a check to your sponsoring organization. That way the money gets to the people who need it and the donors can get a tax receipt.
- Finally remember that although the people you help need the items you are collecting you may get mixed reactions when you give them out. Don’t expect people to be overjoyed, although most will be grateful, make your motive helping the community not getting recognition.