Holiday gift basket drive underway for families in need

Students have a chance to help families in need with the Hope for Hopeless Club’s holiday gift basket drive, which runs until Dec. 12.

Donations will benefit local shelters such as Portland Homeless Family Solutions and the Family Winter Shelter. Club president Alisha Zhao and club members are asking for new movies, holiday DVDs and items, fancy toiletry sets, gift cards, Trimet bus passes, blankets, canned goods, socks, clothing, and toys.

Donations should all be relatively new and none-damaged and may be dropped off in the donations box outside Room 104. Zhao, a sophomore who started the club in her freshman year, encourages students to bring in whatever they can for the drive. “Families are so appreciative of the gifts they receive from the drive,” she said. “It feels great to donate.”

Zhao said she started the club because of her deep compassion for homeless families in need. “I know sometimes it feels like as a teenager there is nothing you can do to help, but it is so easy to just join a club and get started,” she said. “I’m really glad I did, and I encourage students to join or help out in any way they can.”

The club meets every other Monday, and is open to anyone. Volunteer information for Portland Homeless Family Solutions can be found at http://pdxhfs.org, and information for the Family Winter Shelter is at http://humansolutions.org/homelessness-services/warming-center-homeless-families.php