Touring campus last week, visitors might have wondered what students were planning to do with all of the toothpaste they were loading into boxes. Or perhaps they were curious about why so many students were carting around 18-gallon containers full of clothing. No, it wasn’t a class prank, but rather a crew of 13 hard-working students gathering donations for The Hill School’s winter collection.

The Green Initiative and The Community Service program teamed together to host the winter collection for the Pottstown Cluster. An interfaith group of religious communities, The Pottstown Cluster helps local families meet their basic needs and move from dependence to self-sufficiency. As typical for the season, The Cluster was especially in need of warm coats and toiletries.

Twenty Green Initiative students created posters and set up containers around campus for the collection. The club's eco-captains then met with their peers during dorm meetings and sent out e-mails to inform The Hill community about the collection. After students and faculty dropped off heaping bags of coats and filled boxes with toiletries, scarfs, hats, and gloves, the hard work begin. A team of 13 community service students took three afternoons to assemble, sort, weigh, and deliver donations to The Pottstown Cluster.

Since the start of the collection, the average temperatures have been above normal in Pottstown. Yet, that doesn’t mean that the 27 degree days feel any warmer. Tiffany Gordon '15 of Jupiter, Fla. noted, “Being from way down south, I had never experienced a winter before and I now understand how brutal it is! I feel so much better knowing that so many Pottstown community members have a way to stay warm this winter."

Altogether, The Hill community collected and donated 315 pounds of coat, scarves, and winter gear and 125 pounds of toiletries. Kristina Nakao ’12 of Redondo Beach, Calif. remarked, “I believe community service starts within our own community. That is why the winter clothing drive for the Pottstown Cluster was the perfect way to support our own community while getting the entire Hill School campus involved. I am extremely proud of the support we had for this collection.”

The Green Initiative and The Community Service program would like to thank the entire Hill community for their generous donations. The toiletries were especially critical, as there is constant need for these essentials, and supplies at the Cluster are minimal.

 

Later this month, The Pottstown Cluster will distribute our donations to Pottstown families in need.