NEWBERRY — The congregation of the Aveleigh Presbyterian Church have taken on a new mission project to create a care closet for the students in need at Newberry College.
“The project came from members of the church who have connections with Newberry College. They said a lot of freshmen do not have basic necessities,” said Pete Coleman, member of Aveleigh and chairman of the mission project.
Coleman spoke with Dinah Boice, administrative assistant to the dean of students, and found that many who come to the college do not come with what they need, either due to lack of funds or knowledge of what they will need.
The congregation came up with a Newberry College Care Closet to help students. Coleman said the response has been strong.
“We received official church approval in February and we started collecting items in March. We have a pretty big stock pile. We still need to organize the items,” Coleman said.
The church has collected a variety of items from toiletries to linens. The items the church needs include extra long twin size sheets, pillows, pillowcases, blankets towels/wash-clothes, soap/shower gel, toothbrushes, toothpaste, facial tissues, laundry soap, spiral notebooks, flash drives and basic first aid kits.
Through discussions with college officials, it was decided that items like television sets and other items that were not an immediate need would not be collected. Coleman also added that the most needed item was extra long twin size sheets.
Once it gets closer to August, the church will inventory all the items and take them to Newberry College. From there, a college staff member will distribute the items to those students who are in need.
Pastor Ernie Worman, chaplain and director of church relations at Newberry College, has fully endorsed the idea for the students.
“Any support we can provide our student is a good idea. A positive partnership with a local church is a good thing,” he said.
Jane Willis, dean of students at Newberry College, is also excited for the partnership.
“Any community involvement that enhances student experience is a win-win, especially with a faith based institution and a local church,” she said.
When the church gives the donated items to the college, they will leave sheets with the church’s name and number to let students know where the items came from.
To donate items to the Newberry College Care Closet, call the Aveleigh church office at 803-276-3534 or drop the items off at the church at 1211 Calhoun Street in Newberry. Coleman said anyone is welcome to give him a call at 803-924-2048 and he will come pick up items.