Metea’s club, Elevate, is hosting a sock and glove drive this December. Donations are accepted in H203 from Dec. 10 through 19. Elevate is a girls’ and women’s empowerment and education club dedicated to addressing issues surrounding and related to young women. These issues could be health, community, or social-based, and Elevate runs activities to bring together a sense of community for young women.
Although winter essentials, such as hats and coats, are commonly donated during the winter, Ava Hensley, a board member for Elevate, wanted to tackle the winter essentials that are not as widely donated.
“Coats or boots are something that lots of clubs think of to help families in need,” Hensley said, “But one of the things that they really forget is gloves, hats, and socks.”
Students are encouraged to buy a new pair of socks or gloves and bring them to the donation bin in H203. The location to which the donations will be sent has yet to be determined, but a common partner of Elevate is Mutual Ground, a shelter located in Aurora. Hensley chose socks and gloves with the intention of making the drive more affordable and increasing student participation.
“We chose socks and gloves instead of coats as well, because it’s, like, a cheaper thing that lots of people can help with, that can make a big impact,” Hensley said.
This is the first year that Elevate has hosted a sock and glove drive, but they have partnered with Mutual Ground in the past for other donations. Mutual Ground aims to create a safe environment for those impacted by issues such as domestic violence, sexual violence, and substance use.
According to Mutual Ground, they are committed to providing equity for all by supporting the healing of the community through education, awareness, and other services.
Currently, Mutual Ground is celebrating its 50th anniversary of serving the community, and is providing shelter to 126 adults and 102 children who are seeking help from domestic or sexual violence. Because of the wide variety of needs at the shelter, Hensley says any donations are wanted and accepted.
“Get any size, because they can be snow gloves, or they can just be regular gloves,” Hensley said. “It can be whatever size socks because [there are] all sorts of kids that need them.”
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