Freshman Leadership Council Coat Drive

Student Government’s Freshman Leadership Council is participating with Nathan Hale Middle School in the local effort coordinated by Lutheran Family Services to collect clean, gently used blankets and coats for refugee families. The Freshman Leadership Council will be collecting coats and blankets at 5 different locations on campus from November 3 - December 3, 2016. This year, Freshman Leadership Council is expanding the coat drive by partnering with local businesses and campus entities to drive engagement.

The Lutheran Family Services has taken it upon themselves to bring in refugees from struggling countries all over the globe. Refugee families arrive in Nebraska with very few belongings and limited financial resources. These people often come from warmer climates, and are not acclimated to the harsh winters of Nebraska. Health experts report that even a 2-degree drop in body temperature results in reduced heart rate, loss of coordination, and confusion, meaning that adults cannot work effectively and children find it difficult to learn. For most, a warm coat solves the problem. But, for the nearly 15% of Americans living in poverty, a warm winter coat is considered a budget “extra.”

To help the families transition better, Nathan Hale Middle School and the University of Nebraska at Omaha are partnering to put on a coat drive! This means that families don’t have to expend their limited time and resources to attain these winter necessities. Student Government’s Freshman Leadership Council at UNO has decided to promote coat drive engagement by hosting a raffle drawing: for each winter-clothing item donated, a person will get a chance to win a prize at random.

People who donate coats to our event, will contribute more than just a coat. They will be an important partner in providing a healthy life for local refugees in the Omaha community. Together we can help those families who left their homes with only what they could carry on their backs.

Find out more here.

Coats can be dropped off in Mammel Hall, Scott Cafe, the Library, and HPER. November 3 - December 3, 2016. Coats can be dropped off in the MBSC November 18 - December 3, 2016.

There is a raffle drawing for prizes! The top prize is a $100 Visa Gift Card, donated by Student Government. The other prizes are listed on the flier. There is no limit on the number of entries. Hats, gloves, and scarves are worth one chance to win. Youth, small, and medium coats are worth 4 chances to win. All other coats are worth 3 chances to win. People can enter the raffle by putting a ticket in the coat pocket. Directions are posted on the boxes.

View event flier here.