Holland College staff across the province are participating in a college wide campaign to provide winter clothing free of charge to students in need and their families. The campaign is being spearheaded by Tricia Thompson and Eryn Callin, who work in the college’s student support services department.

The two noticed that the number of students who weren’t properly dressed for the weather has increased this year, and it’s not because they’re making a fashion statement. Callin said they see students wearing three or four hoodies in an attempt to keep warm.

“We know that many of our students struggle to make ends meet. Some of them don’t have enough money for food, let alone to buy a coat,” she said. “It’s pretty hard to do well in school when your basic needs for food and warmth aren’t being met.”

Thompson sent an email out early in the week announcing the start of what they have dubbed the One Warm Coat campaign. She said that almost instantly she received replies from staff all over the Island.

“We’ve had a phenomenal response. One staff member said that she is a knitting fanatic and asked if we would accept mittens. Another called asking if we had a need for boots. Initially we were going to pilot the project here at the Prince of Wales, but as soon as I sent the message out, staff from other campuses contacted us asking to join in.”

Staff will be dropping off clean, serviceable used winter clothing until November 28, and students will be invited to stop in on one of five campuses across the province to choose a coat and any other winter wear they may require. What started as a modest idea has become a college-wide effort to make sure that all students, and their families, are warm this winter.

In this picture: Holland College employees Tricia Thompson, right, and Eryn Callin, look over some of the donations that staff have dropped off for their One Warm Coat campaign.