For the first time, the annual Winter Warmth clothing drive through Madison Area Technical College is offering the donations directly to students. In the past, the clothes received have been donated to an off-campus nonprofit organization that the Volunteer Center suspected students utilize.

However, due to an increase in requests for winter clothing through Madison College’s Santa’s Wish List program, the Volunteer Center is testing out a new way to provide students and their fami- lies with warm clothes.

The Winter Warmth clothing drive began accepting donations on Nov. 28, and they will continue accepting jackets, mittens, hats and gently used boots until Feb. 10. Drop off bins can be found at the Truax, Downtown, South and West campuses. The Volunteer Center is also looking into expanding this program to the regional campuses as well.

According to Jason Wiedenhoeft, the Volunteer Center advisor, students in need will be able to pick up items from the Volunteer Center on certain dates in December, January and February.

Any Madison College student will be able to receive clothing on a self-declared need basis. Since this is the first time that the Winter Warmth clothing drive is operating this way, if the system is abused, there will be an application process for future years.

The Volunteer Center is also accepting donations for youth- sized clothing. To receive clothing for their children, stu- dents will have to verify that they are the legal guardian of their child, which can be done directly at the Volunteer Center through their student records.

The idea to offer the clothes directly to students branched off of an idea from another student. Last year, a student contacted Wiedenhoeft ask- ing why Madison College did not have a “mitten tree” for students to exchange mittens and hats. She explained that she knits mittens and hats, and wanted to give them to students in need.

Also, many requests through the Santa’s Wish List program were for similar items, so the Volunteer Center recognized the need for these essentials and expanded on the idea.

“I think it’s another example of how the Volunteer Center is trying to utilize the motto of ‘students helping students,’” Wiedenhoeft said.

“We just believe that any service that we can do for our own student body to help their educational endeavors is
something that is very rewarding. I think that the purpose would be to provide students, and their families as well, with the resources that they need for them to be successful while they’re going to school here.”

Wiedenhoeft also added that he feels students should not have to worry about how they are going to feed their families or how they are going to provide clothes for their families through the winter months.

He feels that providing these clothes to students is not only part of the mission of Student Life, it is also part of the mission of Madison College.

In January, the current coordinator of the Winter Warmth clothing drive will be stepping down due to academic reasons.

Therefore, the Volunteer Center is looking for a student volunteer to coordinate this program. Wiedenhoeft encourages any interested students to apply in the Volunteer Center.

Additionally, any student wishing to donate clothes to this drive can drop off the clothes in any of the bins located at the Madison-based campuses. For those wishing to receive clothes, stop by Student Life to receive more information on the pick up dates.