Wrapped in love

The Marlborough Girls’ College student council has decided to wrap its support around the region’s young learners with a winter clothes donation drive.

From May 12 to 30, MGC student councillors will be collecting winter clothing to support the wider community through the colder months as part of their “Fighting the Cold” campaign, with a focus on lower decile schools who are most likely to be less-prepared for winter weather.

The donated clothes will be packaged together, before being donated to Mayfield, Blenheim, Whitney Street and Redwoodtown Schools as winter bites.

“We’ve begun reaching out to local primary schools to understand their specific needs and we’re aiming to sort donations into named packages to distribute with thought and dignity”, said MGC Student Council head Cleo Collins.

A donation bin will be in the MGC Resources Office, where school families can donate good-quality jackets, jumpers, beanies, pants, thermals, and more, while funds raised on Mufti Day will go into topping up the donations with brand-new clothes.

“No kids should be cold and uncomfortable in the classroom, but many students don’t go to school on cold and rainy days because they don’t have the proper clothes or shoes to walk to school in the rain”, said Taetunaula Kula.

“I’ve already looked through and found smaller winter clothes tucked away at the bottom of a draw, so it’s a great reason for a clean-out”, added Zoe Baker.

Deputy Principal Emily Stenhouse said she was “really proud of the leadership on display” and had likewise dug into her winter clothes to donate.

“This has all been student-driven from the cause to the method, and while we’ve been here to support at the end of the day it’s a task quite close to home for many.”