Donation bins with red and white stripes and a star have been placed among three of SLCC campuses: Jordan (HTC Building), South City (near the Grand Theatre) and Taylorsville-Redwood (Student Center, West Hall).
“My group started to help the veterans, because we have always had a special place in our heart for the service that the veterans have provided for our country and we felt that holding a clothing and blanket drive for the Freedom Landing veterans would be a good way to show our gratitude for all of the service that they have done for us,” says Summer Wanlass, SLCC CTEL 1010 student.
A group of students from SLCC Professor T.C. Stuwe’s CTEL 1010 class is working in partnership with Student Veterans of SLCC and the Lapidary Jewelry Club to collect warm clothing and blankets for veterans in need.
According to a report by Center for American Progress in 2012, 1.5 million veterans are at risk of becoming homeless and close to one in seven homeless adults are veterans.
There is a great need for gently used warm clothing and blankets for many veterans during the winter months ahead.
Winter is a dangerously cold season for Utah’s low income and homeless population. According to The Weather Channel, temperature averages in November often drop below 30 degrees in the Salt Lake Area. Warm clothing and blankets can make a difference in the lives of many.
Although the clothing and blanket drive will end on Monday, Nov. 11, SLCC Veterans Services welcomes donations at any time for veterans in need.
“We want a lot of our members of the community to contribute to our veteran population with whatever clothing they have available,” says Jon Jackson of SLCC Veterans Services.
The items especially needed at this time of year are winter coats, sweaters, jackets, pants, socks and new underwear.
More information is available by visiting Warmth for Veterans Clothing Drive on Facebook or calling SLCC Veteran Services at (801) 957-3838.
