SOUTH HADLEY — Boxes and bags filled with winter clothes — more than 1,000 items in all — lined the back of Jacob Masenior’s classroom at South Hadley High School Wednesday morning.
The items collected by students during the first year of the school’s winter clothing drive were bound for Friends of Children, a Hadley nonprofit that works with children in western Massachusetts.
“I’m really amazed how well South Hadley did,” senior Tessa Matta said of the drive’s success.
Matta, 18, said she knew what it was like to not have warm clothes. The items the students collected, she said, would help someone be warm and not struggle.
“We thought ‘it’s winter; people are cold,’” said student Tori Stefanik, 17. “There are homeless people out there — people in need of things we don’t need.”
But the drive’s impact was not limited to people in need, according to the students. It also brought together the school community, Stefanik said.
Earlier in the week, heaps of clothing lined the classroom tables as students worked together to sort the items.
From cozy sweaters and puffy winter coats to heart-patterned fleece scarves and pink-sequined shoes, the donations ran the gamut.
“I’m really proud of us,” Stefanik said.
“People actually care about others and it’s really nice,” Matta added.
The drive, hosted by the students in the school’s integrated program, more than doubled its goal of 500 items. One student, according to Stefanik and Matta, brought in more than 80 items to donate.
The drive began Dec. 1 and ran through Wednesday, although the students were still collecting last-minute items.
Matta said she would stand out front of the school before the day began to collect items from students.
“I thought it was great,” Masenior said of the drive.
Principal Diana Bonneville said the drive, as well as the community service-oriented learning, teaches kids to be responsible citizens. It far exceeded her expectations.
This is the second time the school has paired with Friends of Children.
Previously, students raised funds and then purchased supplies for the organization’s Foster Dignity program, which works to “level the playing field” for children in the foster care system by providing them with personal hygiene items, new and weather-appropriate clothing, holiday gifts and more, according to the nonprofit.
“I had no clue how big this would become,” said Jane Lyons, the nonprofit’s executive director. “The need is always great.”
Especially heartening, Lyons said, was seeing young people give to other young people and become enthusiastic about their ability to participate in the community.
“I’m enormously grateful.”
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com Sarah Crosby contributed to this report.