Le Moyne College students are partnering with “We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach” to distribute coats and warm clothes to unhoused Syracuse residents in preparation for winter. The warm clothing drive on campus is nearing its end but runs through Monday, Nov. 17.
Anyone in the campus community is welcome to contribute and take part.
For part of a class assignment, Le Moyne students are hosting this coat and warm clothing drive, where students and community members can drop off warm clothing – such as coats, socks, gloves and scarves – to be donated and distributed to those in need. Used clothing, in good condition, is welcome.
Donation boxes for clothing drop-offs can be found in dorm buildings such as Harrison Hall, inside the Campus Center and the Panasci Family Chapel, near the Dolphin’s Den and in academic buildings like the Coyne Science Center and Grewen Hall. Donations are being accepted on campus until the end of the day Monday.
Zoe Coburn, a business major at Le Moyne, helped organize the coat drive as part of an assignment she was given in an organizational behavior class, within the Madden School of Business and Economics. The objective of the assignment was – in some way shape or form – to give back to the community.
“It’s the season of giving,” Coburn says.
When asked about why she chose to do a coat drive and work with “Rise Above,” she replied: “Syracuse winters are brutal. I wanted to help in a more-than-one-time way. Food donations are good, but once you eat the food, it’s gone. Coats keep you warm all winter.”
Coburn also revealed that she had previously volunteered with the organization to distribute bagged lunches at their “sandwich Saturday” outreach.
“We Rise Above the Streets” is an outreach recovery program that seeks to provide aid and relief throughout Syracuse and greater Central New York. The organization hosts a number of dinners and pop-ups – from their annual Thanksgiving dinner to “sandwich Saturdays” -that create bag lunches for over 1,000 individuals, homeless or not, to feed those that need it.
The coat drive is part of the organization’s initiative to provide warm clothing to the area’s houseless population in preparation for the winter season. The Nov. 22 Thanksgiving dinner hosted by “Rise Above” not only offers a full meal to those in attendance, but also gives free haircuts, includes mobile shower and rinse stations, and has a free
clothing rack of warm clothes for people to choose from, according to the organization’s web site, https://www.streetsrecoveryoutreach.org/
That site also explains how the organization was founded by Al-amin Muhammad, after experiencing a period of homelessness himself and later being sent to prison. During this time Al-Amin reflected on his life decisions and ultimately decided that he wanted to do some good for his community – and something of meaning that he could leave
behind for his daughters.
Al-amin converted to Islam and went to college and became an addiction counselor. It was then he decided to organize a collaborative effort to feed and provide aid to the houseless and starving communities in the surrounding areas.
Al-amin’s work has been recognized by many in the community, including an award from Syracuse University in 2021, and he was even given an official day in Syracuse in his honor by Mayor Ben Walsh in 2018, called “Al-amin Muhammad Day,” according to Syracuse.com.
Le Moyne students can still donate coats after the deadline of Nov. 17 by making a short drive. The organization’s office is always accepting donations at 220 W Manlius St., East Syracuse, only eight minutes away from Le Moyne campus.
Coburn expressed interest in organizing another coat drive in the future outside of class. “I’m actually playing with the idea of doing it again next year,” she said, “based on how well it went.”
Students who are also interested in getting involved can reach out to the organization at its web site to learn more.
