As the weather gets chillier, Oxford Academy Red Cross (OARC) aims to help the local homeless community stay warm through its clothing drive. On Oct. 21 and Oct. 28, Oxford students donated gently used clothes along with new socks and underwear, which OARC will deliver to OC Rescue Mission, a nonprofit organization that provides supplies to the homeless.
OARC initiates service projects annually; their Totes of Hope drive last year was delivered to homeless veterans in Orange County, whereas this year’s Clothing Drive aimed to serve the wider community. While brainstorming, they recognized the large unhoused population across Orange County.
“I see a pretty big homeless population in Anaheim, Fullerton, or even in my own neighborhood in Cypress — I saw many homeless people in this one corner last night,” said senior Alyssa Uy, OARC President. “It shines a light on the amount of homeless people who are not well taken care of. I think everybody deserves to be helped out; that’s what our drive is for.”
OARC decided clothing would be the most practical out of the supplies they could potentially donate.
“Food would spoil, but clothes are more manageable; we don’t have to store them in specific locations like refrigerators,” said junior Kevin Bui, OARC Service Coordinator. “Most [homeless people] need clothing replacements over time, because their clothes eventually wear down.”
He added that students’ donations would be especially helpful to families with homeless youth.
“Families can find clothes for their children, because most of us are high school students. Our clothes probably fit them better,” Bui said.
OARC held their first collection day during lunch on Oct. 21, where they received six bags of clothing. On the second day, Oct. 28, they received 30 bags, bringing them to a total of 36 bags of clothes from 22 student donors.
Owner of his own vintage fashion business Romes Vintage, senior Jordi Romero donated two bags of his stock, including jeans, jackets, and t-shirts.
Though Romero doesn’t see donating as a grand gesture, he said it feels rewarding to know he helped someone who needs it.
“It’s not like [donating] is supposed to make you feel good [about yourself], but I help people out if they need it, and I feel happy that I did good for someone,” Romero said.
Through the Clothing Drive, OARC hopes to have made a positive impact on both the recipients of clothes, and participants who donated them.
“I feel like shelters don’t get many donations from youth groups, so OARC is trying to make an impact that isn’t typically seen,” senior OARC Service Coordinator Daniel Georges said.
“We hope donors will learn that there are many who are less fortunate than them and that if they have the opportunity to do so, they should donate,” Bui added. “Many people have clothing in the back of their closet that they don’t use, while other people need it.”
Reflecting on the broader meaning of the drive, Uy emphasized that community is built through such acts of kindness and care.
“I think every piece of clothing does truly help a person in need,” she said. “Seeking out those opportunities to help other people is what really makes our community a community.”
