Members of the St. Clair College community and local businesses are encouraged to help those in need by supporting the Socks and Bottoms fundraiser at South Campus on Dec. 5.
Socks and Bottoms is a Windsor-Essex community-based goodwill initiative geared towards helping people in need by acquiring necessities and hygiene products through donations and sponsorships. Clean socks, underwear, diapers and feminine hygiene products are the most requested items by those experiencing poverty or homelessness.
Javan Keels is a student in Program & Event Planning at St. Clair and is Chair of the Organizing Committee for the College chapter of Socks and Bottoms. Keels and a dozen of her St. Clair classmates will host a Winter Holiday themed fundraiser on South Campus Dec. 5 from 10 am to 5 pm. Keels said team members will gather donations from various departments across campus while also accepting gift cards and cash donations which will be used to purchase more supplies for the cause.
"As Event Planners we are tasked with getting the resources we need to run the event, and one of our tasks is to reach out and get sponsorships," Keels said. "As of right now we have $200 from Dollarama, which is great. We will be using that sponsorship money to decorate the event space and help us fund activities for the participants. But we are always searching for more generous local business donors."
Keels said it has been a positive experience seeing all her St. Clair classmates from diverse backgrounds to collaborate and put their best foot forward to help vulnerable people in the Windsor-Essex community.
"Over half of our students were born in another country or are learning from another country other than Canada," Keels said. "By us all working together, we have all been able to see things from a variety of different views through this project and are now able to help people in the Windsor-Essex community."
Items such as clean socks and underwear as well as other basic hygiene essentials are in high demand. Other items such as gift cards and cash donations will be used to purchase items for those in need.
The Organizing Committee of the Socks and Bottom fundraiser at St. Clair College is still actively seeking sponsorships from local businesses in order to further the cause. Anyone interested in donating items prior to Dec. 5 or sponsoring this event is encouraged to reach out to Javan Keels at Javan.keels@gmail.com
- Brett Hedges