As winter comes, the days become shorter and the temperature drops. To fight the freezing temperatures, people start to bundle themselves up in layers of clothing. Many people have recognized the need for warm clothing, especially for those who may not have access to it. For this reason, communities often come together to provide to those in need, organizing donations like the “Merry Malden” Christmas Drive from 2021.
The project was led by juniors Redson Melo De Oliveira and Anna Cecilia Nascimento, who worked together to collect coats and other winter clothing. After gathering a significant amount of donations, they began to distribute them from the main office.
Oliveira explained that he was motivated to start the project after seeing the number of people who experienced struggle and “cannot buy clothes like this.” Nascimento added that one of the most important reasons for the drive was to see people happy, even if they were being given “the minimum.” The pair hoped their efforts would be able to make a meaningful difference for students during the harsh winter.
The initial planning process began with discussions between Oliveira and Nascimento, who both shared the same inspirations to move forward with their ideas. Once approval was given to run the drive, their project officially began.
Prior to the start of the drive, the two set up donation boxes near entrances and high-traffic areas, such as the main office and gym, to make it easy for students and staff to donate. The accessibility and attention of the boxes contributed to their goal of getting “the maximum amount of clothes” to hand out, shared Nascimento.
Both students expressed interest in continuing the project again in the following years. Looking at the progress they have made so far, they’ve begun to plan how to make a bigger success in the future. By “putting more boxes,” and “planning more early,” Oliveira has high hopes for creating a stronger impact for students through small but important actions.
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