GREENFIELD — Like most other things this year, an annual occurrence at The Academy at Charlemont looked a little different this year than in the past.
“Most of the time, (the clothing drive) is just a coat drive — winter coats, and all that — but this year, because of COVID, we decided to expand it to all kinds of clothes because there is more need than ever,” said Academy at Charlemont student Sarah Senet, 16, who helped organize this year’s drive with the Community Service Council.
In addition to new and gently used clothing, which will be delivered to Safe Passage in Northampton, the school’s community service group also sought donations of scarves, mittens and homemade masks. Those items, Senet explained, were delivered to Greenfield on Sunday morning, where the scarves were tied around trees, and the mittens and masks were hung with string, available for anyone in need to take.
“They’ll be there for people to, if they need them, take them,” Senet said.
Senet said the Community Service Council, which helps coordinate community service events on and off campus, wanted to organize something this year that recognized the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the local community.
“My whole semester at school was remote, so we wanted to do something that was COVID-related because we wanted to help,” Senet explained. “People have lost their jobs, their homes — there’s still a big homeless community in our area. We assumed it was getting bigger because of COVID, so we decided to expand the drive to all types of clothes.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne