story by Hannah Jirousek

The St. Teresa’s community lives out the mission of serving the dear neighbor through many acts of kindness, but two clubs are taking service to the next level by attempting a world record setting coat drive.

Spirit Club and Social Justice Club are teaming up to host a coat drive benefiting Catholic Charities on Dec. 3 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Windmoor Building. New and used coats, vests and other similar winter wear will be accepted.

Spirit Club Co-moderator Kelly Scott estimates a collection goal of 5,150 coats, setting the first Guinness World Record for the most coats collected in an eight hour period.

“We choose to close out our momentous anniversary by striving to live out the mission of St. Teresa of Avila, helping our dear neighbor,” Scott said in the Guinness World Record application, “Our students will be able to see how the mission of our 150-year-old school is more applicable today than ever before.”

The donation drive has been scheduled after the Thanksgiving holiday to encourage the community to engage family members to donate, shop Black Friday coat sales, make announcements at church events or find coats while doing some late fall cleaning.

“A record like this one would not only show the concern our school has for the well-being of others, but the actions we take to prove it,” Social Justice Club Co-president Regan Reda said, “However, it is essential that we not be distracted from the main reason of the drive, providing for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Students, faculty, the neighboring community as well as other area schools are encouraged to participate in the donation drive.

“Bring coats, set the world record and go down in history in a year that is already going down in history,” Spirit Club President Meg Rohr said.

photos by Sophie Sakoulas

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