Spreading holiday cheer: VCU community members team up to donate winter clothing

Annabel Granger, Contributing Writer

Harshini Kanala, Contributing Writer

The College of Humanities and Sciences collaborated with the Latinx Student Association to hold its annual coat drive for Southwood Apartments, located at 4602 Southwood Pkwy.

They collected around 50 coats alongside sweaters and other winter clothing this past month, which will be delivered to the apartments on Friday, Dec. 6.

This coat drive is one of many community engagement opportunities for VCU students and faculty, and highlights the needs of lower socioeconomic communities, according to Anita Nadal, the faculty fellow for community engagement in the College of Humanities and Sciences.

Nadal worked with her Spanish 332 class and the LSA to organize the drive. This is Nadal’s third year organizing clothing donations to Southwood Apartments, and she plans to donate to them in the future.

“It is one of the lowest social economic communities in Richmond with a large Spanish-speaking community,” Nadal said.

The need for winter clothing is dire as the cold winter months get closer, and many residents are unprepared for it, Nadal said.

“Many residents come from warmer countries and they don’t have winter coats or other winter clothing items,” Nadal said. “The best way to help is to donate. Faculty, staff and students help.”

John Portillo, a fourth-year psychology student and one of the two service chair members of the LSA, said the Southwood Apartments are a perfect place to send donations and extra support during the winter.

“We chose this area because we especially see that there are a lot less resources for this community,” Portillo said.

Portillo’s first-hand experience in this community gave him insight on the lack of resources and support that the residents struggle with.

This isn’t LSA’s first contribution to the community — it has previously held drives to support elementary schools and facilities like women’s shelters and mental hospitals, according to Portillo.

LSA’s school supply drives are very important to Portillo because back-to-school shopping is hard for students learning English as a second language — he had to translate his school supply list to his mother in third grade — and supplies aren’t cheap anymore, according to Portillo.

“This year I was shopping for my siblings, and I saw this little girl in the store doing the same,” Portillo said. “Our parents try so hard, making sure I have these supplies, making sure I have a good education, making sure I’m getting somewhat good supplies to get by in school — so it warms my heart to help ESL students.”

Holiday donations also give families a “light of hope,” and provide them with a supportive community and helpful resources, especially for children who cannot afford to have the “American experience” of celebrating holidays with gifts and toys with their families, according to Portillo.

Mariana Ramirez-Linares, a second-year pre-clinical radiation student and the other service chair of LSA, said appropriate clothing may not be as available to families in need around the holidays.

“The children and parents that come from these countries sometimes don’t have clothes that are good for the winter here.” Ramirez-Linares said. “It’s very different from places like Mexico where it’s always hot and you come here and don’t realize how cold it gets.”

Ramirez-Linares said immigrants always build a tighter community because they left their families behind, just like her parents who had to build a community for themselves after coming to Virginia Beach.

“Some of us will never see our family again,” Ramirez-Linares said. “We come together and make a new family here, build on a dream we all have. But not everyone may be that fortunate with finding jobs and celebrating holidays.”

Students can follow LSA’s Instagram page or find posters to get updates on future drives and events.

Portillo said it’s important for people to recognize the work LSA does to create a community on campus and help others.

“The Latino community doesn’t often get a good rep,” Portillo said. “We are frowned upon or side-eyed because we don’t speak English or they see us as different and attach a negative stereotype or stigma. I’m really proud that we’re actually doing things that have positive outcomes.”

There are many opportunities for students and faculty to engage and contribute to the needs of Richmond residents. Volunteering and community involvement opportunities can be found on VCU’s community engagement page.