By Grace Kasberg.
HOSA needs fleece for their 13th annual fleece drive. The Health Occupations Students of America collects fleece every year before these cold months to make blankets for the local homeless and needy.
“I saw the need for the homeless to stay warm, just seeing the homeless out in the community, seeing them shivering in the early morning hours coming to school,” HOSA coordinator Mellissa McMillion said. “I think that was the first time I actually realized wow, these people really don’t have anything to stay warm.”
The HOSA committee will start making the blankets the week before Thanksgiving break and will continue to make them until Christmas. They will cut the end of two fleece blankets, then tie them together making them warm enough for the winter.
“We’ll take them to the Salvation Army and Mission Thanksgiving, and we’ll put them on some trucks so they can sort them out,” Anna McMillion said. “And then we can also go around the community and give them to actual homeless people that we see or anyone that looks like they need them.”
Some students such as sophomore, Aracely De La Paz, joined HOSA for these kinds of opportunities to help out in the community.
“I’m really glad I’m a part of something that helps out Abilene,” De La Paz said. “There are so many people right now you are not guaranteed warmth during the winter, and I’m glad I can help.”
The deadline for the fleece has already passed, but they will continue to take walk-in donations. Donations can be brought to McMillion’s room, 4110.
“We would really love everyone to help out the community this year,” sophomore treasurer Morgan Anders said. “Every year so many people are blessed with blankets, and we hope to continue with this tradition for a long time.”
