By Julie Slama | [email protected]

Some families may be a little warmer this winter, thanks to Draper Park Middle School’s Latinos-in-Action club.

The group recently organized a clothing drive to benefit people at The Road Home shelter, providing winter outerwear as well as clothing and shoes.

“I really liked the idea of donating and having a drive to benefit The Road Home,” said seventh-grader Paige Hillstead, who came up with the service project. “After having a Zoom meeting to learn about the homeless shelter’s needs, we learned there was constant turnover and it’s harder in the winter when it’s cold and the shelter doesn’t have enough space there. So, we wanted to help them get more warm clothes to wear.”

The club’s service committee then organized a week-long new and gently used clothing drive at the school.

“We offered raffle tickets for students who brought in donations,” eighth-grader Natalie Mompo said about the doughnuts that were given to the six lucky winners. “There were a lot of people interested in the service project and in making a big impact.”

Throughout the service project, students organized the clothes and sorted them.

“We had storage bins and they got completely full, which was really cool,” she added.

LIA counted more than 100 bags of clothing, said eighth-grader and club president Alex Robichaux.

“We spread the word and we ended up with donations jam-packed in the principal’s truck,” Alex said. “It was a lot, a big donation. We expected a few boxes, but instead, it definitely will make a big impact.”

Draper Park’s LIA chapter was created last school year, but it was limited in activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Latino and non-Latinos are involved, all wanting to make a positive impact in their school community and getting a chance to have leadership roles.  Already, the group is active in tutoring their peers.

LIA leaders are looking at more possible service projects as well as learning about professional career opportunities and possibly go on field trips. The group, which is advised by Edith Goodrich, also has introduced cultural Fridays at the school so they can educate their classmates to Latino perspective of the world through music, food, videos and other ways.