Press Release

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2009
UNH Manchester
Kim Wall, Kim.Wall@unh.edu

Warm Clothes Needed

Manchester, NH –As the temperature falls we are reminded of the many adults and children in New Hampshire who cannot afford warm coats and clothes for the winter season. This is especially true this year with the unemployment rate near record levels and so many people struggling financially. This winter your coat and clothing donations will matter more than ever.

The Warmth from the Millyard warm clothing drive, now in its third year, will begin November 9, and will continue through November 20, 2009. Coordinated by students in UNH Manchester’s Community Leadership Program, the goal is to collect new or lightly used coats, sweaters, jeans, hats, mittens, boots, and socks for children and adults. There is also a need for warm children’s pajamas. Morgan Storage generously donated the use of a portable storage bin to temporarily store the clothing before delivery. Donations will be delivered to New Horizons, Southern New Hampshire Services, and Child and Family Services in Manchester. The community is invited to drop off their donations at the UNH Manchester campus, 400 Commercial Street, in the donation bins on the first floor.

Warmth from the Millyard has inspired students to get involved and give back to their community. One student wrote in on the project’s blog about her experience, “This project has reinforced my self-motivation and compassion for others and made me realize that I can make a difference even if I never meet the individual I am serving.” Students in the Community Leadership Program are participating in marketing, outreach and volunteer recruitment. The Communication Arts Program is creating a documentary film about the project. Students in a zoology class have collected clothing and are conducting research on the effects that cold weather has on the human body. The First Year Experience Program and the Student Activities Office have also been involved in the collection.

The Community Leadership Program at UNH Manchester is designed for students who wish to transform a passion for community activism into a rewarding career. Community Leadership is one of only a handful of programs nationwide to combine hands-on community outreach with an academic study of leadership, communities, citizen influence, and non-profit organization management. Because of this unique curriculum, the program is included as part of the New England Regional Student Program in all of the New England states. Learn more about this unique and rewarding program at www.unhm.unh.edu

If you would like additional information, or to be a part of the Warmth from the Millyard project, contact Professor Kate Hanson at Kate.Hanson.edu or by visiting the Warmth from the Millyard blog at: www.warmthfromthemillyard2009.blogspot.com

UNH Manchester, UNH's urban campus, offers liberal arts and applied majors in business, science, and technology, all with an urban focus. UNH Manchester is UNH. Learn more at www.unhm.unh.edu