STUDENTS COLLECT SOCKS, HATS AND GLOVES FOR D.C.’S HOMELESS

By Abigail Adcox, Staff Writer

Mason’s College Service Project will host a winter clothing drive for items to deliver to the homeless in Washington, D.C. The drive will be held on Monday, Nov. 6 through Thursday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at kiosks in the Johnson Center.

College Service Project is a college chapter of the Appalachia Service Project (ASP), which was first brought to Mason’s campus in 2016 by Emalie Freitas. Freitas participated in ASP during high school and wanted to continue her experience at her time at Mason.

“When considering service projects we could do this semester, I wanted to keep it within the realm of housing,” said Freitas. “Since we aren’t ready for home repair in Fairfax County, helping the homeless was the next closest thing to a housing project we could do.”

According to Freitas, socks are one of the most needed clothing items in homeless shelters. College Service Project hopes to collect them, along with other new and lightly-used items like scarves, hats and gloves, from Mason students as they prepare for the season.

“As the winter months approach, these items are vital in preventing hypothermia and keeping people warm,” she said.

College Service Project will deliver the items they collect next week to the Department of Human Services in Washington, D.C. If students have something they would like to donate but are unable to make it to campus during one of the collection days, they can contact Freitas directly at efreita4@gmu.edu.

“The motto of the Appalachia Service Project is ‘warmer, safer, drier,’ referring to the homes that are repaired by volunteer groups in Appalachia,” explained Freitas. “Through this event, we hope to help the homeless of DC be warmer, safer, drier this winter.”