Student's collect record number of jeans for homeless
Updated: February 12, 2013
TOLONO -- A community comes together to help the homeless.
"I told the students, 'I don't think we should redo this project. We've probably collected all the jeans we can find,'" says librarian Kathy Wickline.
Students collected more donations than they ever thought possible. It's called the Teens for Jeans Project. Each year Unity Junior High collects jeans for the homeless. One of many service projects they do each year.
These students collected 3,210 pairs of jeans. That's compared to the mere 500 they got last year.
As they were loading them onto a truck to be delivered, more were coming in. In three weeks, they collected dozens of boxes.
Only about 30-students are in the service project, but this year, parents and community members spread the word. Donations have been pouring in. They've even had some from people who aren't from Central Illinois, but heard about it and wanted to help.
"I had parents that were putting this on Facebook. Even had a person that sent us jeans in the mail from Holcolmb, Illinois, so thanks to them too," says Kathy Wickline.
The kids are loading the jeans to take to a clothing store. That store will then distribute them to homeless shelters in the area.
The student organization behind the project is the Super Service Squad. They do about six service projects a year to improve the school and community.
"I told the students, 'I don't think we should redo this project. We've probably collected all the jeans we can find,'" says librarian Kathy Wickline.
Students collected more donations than they ever thought possible. It's called the Teens for Jeans Project. Each year Unity Junior High collects jeans for the homeless. One of many service projects they do each year.
These students collected 3,210 pairs of jeans. That's compared to the mere 500 they got last year.
As they were loading them onto a truck to be delivered, more were coming in. In three weeks, they collected dozens of boxes.
Only about 30-students are in the service project, but this year, parents and community members spread the word. Donations have been pouring in. They've even had some from people who aren't from Central Illinois, but heard about it and wanted to help.
"I had parents that were putting this on Facebook. Even had a person that sent us jeans in the mail from Holcolmb, Illinois, so thanks to them too," says Kathy Wickline.
The kids are loading the jeans to take to a clothing store. That store will then distribute them to homeless shelters in the area.
The student organization behind the project is the Super Service Squad. They do about six service projects a year to improve the school and community.
