Essex County College Students Collect Coats For Homeless

NEWARK, NJ — A group of students at Essex County College recently helped to protect dozens of homeless residents in Newark against the frigid winter cold by gathering almost 100 coats during a campus clothing drive.

According to a school news release, members of Essex County College’s Social Work Student Association collected nearly 100 coats, which took place during a two-week span in November.

The coats were then transferred to the Newark Emergency Services for Families (NESF) office for distribution, where Zoya Haye, president of the association, is interning this semester.

Haye said club officers Vice President Anthony Martinez, Secretary Shari Raphael, Treasurer Rebecca Baptiste and Deputy Treasurer Petagay Collins “all worked extremely hard to make this effort possible along with other team members.”

Haye said that many of Newark’s homeless go to NESF daily for a meal and a hot shower. And now thanks to the students, a nice coat, as well.

A few of the mostly men’s coats went to international students at Essex County College who weren’t acclimated to New Jersey’s cold winters, Haye added.

“A very special thanks to the students in the Social Work program,” said NESF Executive Director Diane Young. “Words cannot express the deep gratitude we have for you.”

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Photo: Essex County College