By Margarete G. Roberts
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – The Office of Student Life and Activities will host its annual Coat and Food Drive Nov. 1 to Dec. 9. The Office of Student Life and Activities is partnering with local charities to provide coats and food for those in need.
The CCC Coat and Food Drive is an annual event encompassing the Blackwood, Camden and Cherry Hill campuses. A donation of a “gently worn and clean” coat will be given to the DOT Organization (Dreams of Tomorrow) and a donation of canned goods will be presented to the South Jersey Food Bank.
Bobby Harris, 63, of Sicklerville, CEO and founder of the DOT Organization, Inc., said, “DOT is grateful for the time and effort CCC students take in these hard economic times to help someone else when many times, students themselves do not have jobs.” This is the third year DOT has partnered with local organizations to collect coats for those in need.
Jacqueline Tenuto, assistant to the dean of students, stated, “Last year, CCC students donated over 200 coats to keep those in need warm during the brutally cold winter months. This year’s goal is to surpass this amount and completely fill the athletic van with your donations.”
Renee Pollard, secretary for student activities, said, “CCC is a community college and we all really like to help our community and people of all ages keep warm every winter.”
With the forecasts predicting colder than usual temperatures this winter and early “Snoctober” weather last weekend, Tenuto said, “There is no greater feeling than knowing you are keeping someone warm this winter. A smile of ‘thanks’ from someone in need radiates warmth in your heart for giving and is priceless.”
Erika Moton, 48, of Camden, a CCC human services and addictions counseling major, will donate a new coat to the drive. Moton said, “I think it is a good cause because there are so many adults and children who do not have coats, or the coats they have are torn and tattered and will not keep them warm through the blustery wind and bitter cold.”
To make a donation, please drop off coats at one of these locations: Blackwood campus: College Community Center, second floor lobby; Camden campus: Technology Center, first floor College Hall lobby, and Cherry Hill campus (Rohrer Center): lobby.
To learn more about how donations can help the DOT Organization, Inc., please visit www.thedotorganization.com.
Jackie Tenuto and Wesley Johns, as the CCC Cougar, challenge CCC students to fill the CCC van with coats for the DOT Organization Nov. 1 to Dec. 9, 2011. By Margarete G. Roberts, CCC Journalism Program