Middle School Student

Organizes Clothing Drive

By Tanjua Damon

Newtown Middle School eighth grader Alyssa McIntyre is organizing an effort to help other children gain things they do not have enough of – clothing.

Starting on Monday, October 23, Alyssa will have boxes around the middle school where she hopes that people will put clothes they no longer need.

“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do at first,” she said. “But I decided I wanted to help children and decided to pursue one place.”

All the donated clothing will be brought to the children at Danbury Safe House. The children at the Safe House, aged 3 to 12, do not have many belongings. Alyssa hopes that her organized clothing drive will help change that.

“It helps the children. These children really need something,” Alyssa said. “It’s useless to leave the clothes at home if you’re not going to use them when they can go to good use.”

The clothing drive will take place from October 23 through October 28. Anyone wishing to donate can bring his or her unwanted clothes to the Newtown Middle School from 8:30 am until 4 pm all week. On Saturday, October 28, Alyssa will be at the middle school from 10 am to noon if anyone would like to drop off some last minute items.

Needed items include all types of new underwear and socks, non-perishable snacks, juice boxes, granola bars, etc., backpacks and school supplies, and hair accessories like hair clips, scrunchies, elastics, brushes, and combs.

Alyssa is asking her school community to dig deep into your closets and drawers to help the children of the Danbury Safe House.

“I thought it was a good idea,” she said. “I have friends who are willing to help.”