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Date: 12/27/2022
SOUTH HADLEY/SPRINGFIELD – On Dec. 19 students from Pioneer Valley Performing Arts (PVPA) Charter Public School dropped off clothing donations to Springfield Rescue Mission after hosting a clothing drive.
The drive started in the week prior and saw the school accepting donations from students and staff at the school leading up to the drop off date. When that came, the students behind the project, Kamali Joseph and Electra Nearey, made their way over to Springfield Rescue Mission for the drop off that will benefit those in need.
The PVPA community was able to donate six large bags stuffed full of coats, gloves, hats, scarves and other winter clothing all together. The coat drive came out of a brainstorming session between Joseph and Nearey for a National Honor Society (NHS) project for the winter.
“In NHS we were brainstorming service projects to do this winter. My friend Electra Nearey and I decided we would run a coat drive,” Joseph said. “We had no idea that people would donate that many items. I’m glad that we were able to help.”
According to PVPA Communications Coordinator Sandra Courtney, Nearey and Joseph created flyers to post around the school building to raise awareness of the drive. They also shared a reminder video on the school’s Instagram and Facebook pages to help notify the community.
Courtney said, “The community really came through.”
Executive Director and CEO of Springfield Rescue Mission Kevin Ramsdell said they were thankful for the student’s part in collecting donations for the men, women and children in need in the greater Springfield area.
Ramsdell added that “it is such a blessing” to receive community help with the ongoing challenges Springfield Rescue Mission faces.
“With the needs continuing to increase and the cold weather settling in we need help with winter clothing. We are so grateful for Pioneer Valley Performing Arts and their support through their winter clothing drive,” Ramsdell said. “We could not do what we do to fill the need of the men, women and children of the greater Springfield area without support from folks like you [the students]. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Ramsdell added the needs of Springfield Rescue Mission continues to be great and his prayer is that students continue to share with each other about contributing to the need within the community.