This past Friday, November 22, Westborough High School’s very own STRIVE (Seek To Relieve, Inspire, and Volunteer Everywhere) celebrated their month-long clothing drive with a community-wide movie night held in the WHS Auditorium.
STRIVE, the relatively new club has been very active in recent weeks. Throughout November, the group ran their “Spread the Warmth Drive” where they collected Winter gear— from coats and hats to gloves and scarves— allowing Westborough students, families, and faculty to donate their gently used clothes to refugees in need. Having left behind their homes and loved ones due to a range of dire situations, these refugees settled into local hotels in the past year or so. From Afghanistan to the Caribbean, Worcester County alone is seeing grandparents and newborn children alike looking for one thing: a hope to rebuild their lives under the blanket of warmth and safety. Feuling their donation drive, it was STRIVE’s mission to achieve this very warmth and protection for the new families.
The “Spread the Warmth Drive” was an important part of STRIVE’s ongoing mission to support the Helping Hands organization, which is dedicated to assisting vulnerable communities around the world. As an extension of the nonprofit, STRIVE not only raises funds but also raises awareness about the struggles refugees face when arriving in new countries. The club’s dedication to Helping Hands’ In-Kind program, which sends necessary supplies like clothing, home goods, and clean water to communities in need, is just one example of their larger commitment to global and local humanitarian efforts.
As Ratatouille projected onto WHS’ Auditorium screen and “Le Festin” blared through the speakers, tens of children currently residing in hotels throughout the Worcester area were brought to STRIVE’s “Warm Night at Movies.” They came together with families from the larger community with a side of free popcorn and brownies. The night was a smashing success, with both monetary and coat donations ending the club’s Fall event with more than 100 donations. Club members plan to distribute these donations among said refugee families.
The journey to a new, foreign land is hardly ever simple; there is a new language to acquire, and new customs to adhere to. The biggest, yet most overlooked hardship of immigration is that there is no written roadmap for the rough, winding, beautifully inspiring adventure those seeking refuge are bound to face. Many of Westborough’s local refugee families have only ever known warmer climates, making the harsh New England winters especially difficult to navigate. STRIVE members hope these simple, day-to-day items like sweaters and coats— though often taken for granted— could drastically ease the transition into the Massachusetts environment.
With Thanksgiving and an eventful holiday season ahead, the club members plan to continue lending their hands and hearts to acclimatizing families. Watch out for STRIVE throughout the school year!
