Final push for winter warmth drive

Students asked to donate coats, blankets

“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” But before it does, help the Boulder community stay warm.

The 7th annual CU Winter Warmth Drive is in its final week of collecting donations. The Warmth Drive, which asks for the Boulder community to donate winter clothes and supplies, began Nov. 10, and will conclude this Friday, Dec. 1.

The drive is sponsored by CU’s Office of Community Relations and the Boulder Valley Rotary. The Boulder Valley Rotary club is a service club comprised of men and women in Boulder.

The Evan Scholars have also been helping with the drive. The Evan Scholars chapter at CU is a scholarship program for students based on academic merit and financial need. Scholars must have worked as a caddie at a golf course for at least two years.

The Office of Community Relations is specifically asking students, faculty and staff to donate winter coats, outerwear and blankets to the cause. Donations can also be made by anyone outside the CU community. All items will be donated to more than 20 Boulder County organizations.

Donations can be made at any of the 18 collection areas on campus, which are located at the Dean’s Offices, the Chancellor’s Office, SORCE, the CU Book Store, the CU Police/parking office, the ARC Building, the Rec Center, and the Family Housing Office.

“We try to make the Winter Warmth Drive as easy as possible so that people can share the warmth,” said Erin Frazier, community liaison and program coordinator for the Office of Community Relations.

The Boulder Valley Rotary also set up location points throughout Boulder for community donations.

According to Frazier, who has worked with the drive for five years, the drive usually does well on alternate years. The drive was very successful last year, and this year there have not been as many donations, said Frazier.

This year, the most common item donated is an adult coat, but other items are still needed.

“We are in need of kids’ coats so that we can make sure Boulder County kids who need warmth this winter are covered,” Frazier said.

The recent snow may be just what the drive needs to encourage donations in its final days.

“I would hope that if CU students have extra blankets or coats that are in good conditions, they would share that with someone in need,” Frazier said.