By Vanessa M. Sanchez
Food, clothing, toys and other donations are needed for charity drives by campus organizations.
At the Methodist Student Center, members have continuously collected clothing for their annual drive called Into the Streets, which stocks the clothing closet at Travis Park United Methodist Church’s ministry for the homeless
For three years, this student group has gathered donations year-around of clothing for sleeping, everyday wear and professional attire for job interviews.
“I have board members who sometimes bring in nice clothes,” said Dr. David L. Semrad, the United Methodist Student Movement director.
Members of the group will meet throughout the weekend to help with serving meals, shower monitoring, clothes handling and job mentoring.
Semrad hopes that students and volunteers get more out of this trip than just knowing that they did a good deed for that day.
People can donate items to the United Methodist Campus Ministry, located at 102 Belknap. For more information on how to donate, call 733-1441.
Semrad said he hopes those who help out grow to learn that the world is not just about passing through but also should be about helping those in need and making them feel welcomed by society.
College radio station KSYM is also helping out the community by collecting canned goods in a drive called Alternative to Hunger.
The station will host a concert from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 17 at Ruta Maya Riverwalk Coffee Shop, 107 E. Martin St.
A donation of $5 or five canned goods admits one person, and one turkey gets five people in.
Headlining the event is Big Soy, and other bands on the bill are San Antonio Bluecats, Silent Minority and Whitman.
Live art from Art Slam will be up for a silent auction. All proceeds benefit St. Peter’s-St. Joseph’s Children’s House, also known as St. PJ’s.
The Catholic Student Center will cooperate with KSYM in collecting food for one family.
Campus minister Joseph Liedecke is asking for food to help a family from a local parish.
The family consists of a mother and daughter, both of whom are widows, Liedecke said.
The Catholic Student Center also is working on a toy drive for children of incarcerated parents at St. PJ’s children’s home.
Anyone can donate gently used clothes and toys at the concert or at the center located at 312 W. Courtland. For more information, call 736-3752.
The Cheshyre Cheese Club will also collect canned goods for a family in need through their Jack Leslie Thanksgiving Food Drive through Nov. 17.
The club is asking for nonperishable goods and has placed boxes in campus buildings. The collection boxes are in Room 123 of Gonzales Hall, Room 2908 of the early childhood development center, Rooms 152 and 212 of Loftin Student Center, the second floor lobby of Moody Learning Center, Room 223 of Chance Academic Center and Room 131 of McCreless Hall.
Grocery gift cards and donations of money are accepted as well but are to be dropped off in Room 123 of Gonzales Hall.