By LINDSEY MAYS
Clarion Call writer
The Advisory Board for Leadership and Engagement (ABLE), a student service and leadership organization on campus is conducting a Winter Clothing Drive to benefit community members who are in need during this frigid winter season. The members of ABLE work tirelessly year-round to provide service and support to the Clarion community at large. The Winter Clothing Drive is making its mark this year and they need our help to make this drive a success.
The drive is taking place now through Jan. 31. All donations made will be donated to Clarion County’s Promise which is the community affiliate of America’s Promise with the end goal being The Alliance for Youth.
Items that are needed but not limited to include coats, scarves, gloves, hats, boots, socks, etc. Donated items can be gently used – ABLE wants to gather as many items as possible because the temperatures continue to drop, and they want to help as many people as possible.
Donations can be dropped off in the ABLE office which is in Room 249 in the Gemmell Student Center.
The community is invited to be a part of ABLE’s drives and are a big reason for such success on past drives and events. Breanna Solman, philanthropy chair for ABLE, stated that “Without the communities help in the past drives, for example Stuff-a-Truck, which we did last semester, we would not have been as successful as we were. We collected over 1200 items for donations!”
Be on the lookout for other ABLE events in the future. Some of their upcoming events include a DIY Cleaning Products event, Weight Loss and Self-Defense Class to get ready for spring break. The Service Summit will be held on Feb. 9, there will be a body positivity image series, several service trips (Ronald McDonald House, Community Gardens, and Habitat for Humanity), and Come Together Clarion. More information on these events will be shared via emails, social media and flyers, so stay on the lookout if you are interested in getting involved!
Solman feels so empowered by volunteering her time, “My favorite part about being in ABLE is that I’m able to give back to the community. ABLE does a lot of community service and it makes me feel like I have purpose. My biggest hope is that we, as a community, look out for each other at all times, rather than when we are in a bind.”
