Giving the gift of warmth this season

'Tis the season for giving! With the holiday season here again, many look for ways to give back and help those in need. How about donating that winter coat or classic Christmas sweater you haven't worn in ages?

Created to assist students with outerwear during the cold winter months, the winter Coat Closet through San Jacinto College Student Engagement and Activities launched in fall 2018. The campus coat closets provide coats, jackets, and other clothing items to currently enrolled students and their family members in need.

As the colder weather begins, the College wants to make sure staying warm is not a barrier to student success. Gently used, clean coats and other winter apparel can be donated anytime to student engagement and activities offices on the Central, North, and South Campuses.

"We typically do our call for donations in mid-autumn so we have a fresh supply of coats going into the winter months," said Daniel Byars, South Campus SEA coordinator.

Students can simply fill out a form online or in person at a campus SEA office to set up a time to pick out winter garments for themselves and their family members.

Byars encourages students to use the Coat Closet, despite the fact that temperatures are not exactly freezing yet.

"The coat closet is open year-round," he said. "It's an easy way to help ensure students have a clothing resource available when the winter weather finds its way to us."

The San Jacinto College SEA offices are located at:

• Central Campus Student Center: Building 14, Room C14.100 (281-476-1877)
• North Campus Student Center: Building 12, Room N12.101 (281-459-7167)
• South Campus Student Center: Building 11, Room S11.115 (281-929-4633)