Winter Clothing Drive
Keywords:
Advocacy
Community needs
Donate
Nonprofit Organization
Research
A Simple Safe Service project from home: Winter weather can make being outdoors uncomfortable and even dangerous, so having the right clothing can boost our mental and physical health and even save lives. Not everyone has warm socks, jackets that fit, waterproof boots, and thick mittens. Find out if there is a need in your community and use your voice to collect and donate winter clothing.
SIMPLE SAFE SERVICE
Simple Safe Service activities are designed to spark generous action and conversations promoting the good of all.
Winter weather can keep people indoors and separate them from healthy outdoor activities that are fun and good for mental health. People who are homeless in the winter may be in danger of freezing. You can help your community stay healthy and safe by organizing a winter clothing drive.
- Talk about what you love about playing outdoors in the winter. How does it feel to be active and explore in the winter months? Make a list of winter activities and explorations.
- Read about the mental health benefits of being outdoors, even in the winter. Why is it good for people and for the whole community to be outside in nature in all kinds of weather? Take notes about the many benefits, and note the downsides of staying indoors. These notes can help your project.
Alfred Wainwright said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
- Contact a local nonprofit that serves people who are homeless. Ask about their needs to serve people who live outside without sufficient clothing or blankets. Find out what you can do to help. Learn about what is needed and not needed.
- Talk to school principals and social workers to find out the winter clothing needs for kids. Do they already have a system for collecting and distributing clothing and boots? Find out what you can do to help.
- Make a plan to take action:
- Organize a winter clothing drive: Let people know what is needed - types of winter clothing and sizes. Use your network to share facts of what you are collecting and where to bring it. Tell about the need and how it helps the whole community. Collect items and make it fun with contests and by celebrating reaching goals or getting good items or amounts. Bring the collected items to the place where they will reach the people who need them.
- Encourage people to get outside: This may include making an advocacy poster or using social media to share the mental health benefits of being outdoors. You could organize outdoor games at schools or in your neighborhood.
- More: Connect with a senior group to learn to knit or crochet hats.
- Get other people to help you. Carry out your plan. Advertise. Collect items and celebrate milestones. Make it fun to be outside. Talk about the importance of mental health and the benefits of being outside.
Reflection: When more people get outside and enjoy nature, we recognize we are all connected to one another and to nature. How is this good for the community?
Find more Simple Safe Servie activities.
Learning to Give ...
- educates youth about philanthropy, the civil society sector, and the importance of giving their time, talent and treasure for the common good (knowledge),
- equips youth by encouraging philanthropic behavior and experience (skills), and,
- empowers youth to take voluntary citizen action for the common good in their classrooms, lives and communities (behavior).