By Joe Anuta
A Queens Village college student was so concerned about residents staying warm this winter that she decided to start her own clothing drive — and she is off to a good start.
“It’s going great,” said Geraldine Pierre, a 22-year-old York College student. “I have a whole basement, and it’s full of a lot of bags.”
Since the drive started Nov. 29, Pierre has been collecting donations at her alma mater, Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village, where several students have been helping to sort and store the clothes, although some people brought bags directly to her house.
The clothing will go to four Queens homeless shelters: The Briarwood Family Residence, The Independence Inn, El Camino Inn and The Jamaica Shelter for Women.
Pierre got the idea after seeing a similar drive at her college.
“I was walking around when I saw the flier and said, ‘Maybe I should do that around my community,’” she said.
She contacted her old high school advisor, Brian Greenspan, who volunteered to help.
“He remembered me when I called him up,” she said in disbelief. “I graduated four years ago.”
Pierre said that each week she will load a borrowed van with bags and boxes of donations with the help of friends and high school students, and will then drop off the clothing at a different shelter.
“Last week everything went to Briarwood; this week everything will go to El Camino,” she said.
Pierre is also holding a raffle. Tickets are $1 and the winner will get half of all the money raised. The other half will go to SCO Family Services, a foster care agency with locations around the five boroughs and Long Island.
Pierre would be happy to partner with a larger agency, but for now she does not mind doing most of the work herself.
“I know it’s starting to get cold, and it’s really a good thing to give back to the community,” she said.
Pierre added that she would like to hold the drive every year.
But this winter residents who wish to contribute can drop off clothing items at the high school at 230-17 Hillside Ave.
“To come together around this time of year is a good thing,” she said.
Reach reporter Joe Anuta by e-mail at januta@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
