Clothing drive serves community

Acts of service and philanthropy have long been part of the Oberlin experience, and have most recently been performed by the Newman Catholic Community, which closed its clothing drive for the needy last week.

Two months ago labeled drop off boxes were placed in the lobbies of dorms and other campus buildings so members of the college community could easily donate any unwanted clothes. Last Friday the clothes were collected and brought to Catholic Community Services, a community based, non-profit agency which provides basic needs to low-income families of Lorain County.

"We provide clothing to about 10-15 families each day," Adrian Norman, a staff member at Catholic Community Services, said.

Addressing the donations made by the Oberlin Community, Norman said, "We are in constant need of clothing, and are very appreciative."

This clothing drive is the revival of an older program which Newman sponsored about eight years ago under former Catholic chaplain, Fr. Dennis Works. According to current chaplain, Fr. Edward Kordas, it was time to bring back the Catholic community's involvement in the social services.

"It merged out of a felt need of the Newman Community to move more in the direction of social activism," Kordas, who was approached by members of the Newman student leadership group, said.

Senior Steve Postellon, a member of the Newman leadership group, was the head organizer of the project.

"The clothing drive seemed like something we could do that would have a lot of impact," said Postellon.

"It was something we could do with the help of other communities on campus," he said, recognizing the efforts of dorm coordinators, and members of the faculty and staff who helped collect the clothing.

"There was certainly no lack of generosity on the side of the students," Kordas said.

Dan Cunningham, electric maintenance manager, was approached by Postellon, who he knows as a member of the contemporary music group at Sacred Heart Church in Oberlin, and was immediately interested in the project.

Last Friday, Cunnningham loaded up his pick-up truck numerous times to transport the donated clothes to Lorain.

"It's a great thing," Cunningham said. "More often than not these clothes get left behind at the end of the school year. It is nice to see them go somewhere useful."

While acknowledging the success of the project, Kordas admits they would like to make greater efforts to get others involved.

"We will be taking initiatives to contact other religious groups on campus to develop an inter-faith approach," he said.

"Religious groups have always had a history of works of charity and standing up for cases that have to do with an option for the poor," said Kordas. "And we intend to continue and increase this type of activity."

Norman was excited by the possibilities of future donations by the Oberlin community.

"We run basically by donaations from the private sector, churches and Catholic Charities," Norman said. "Anything that is going to help a family get on their feet and get started is always welcomed."

"We ask that any and everyone keep us in mind," she said.