Walking into school last week, many LFHS students and faculty saw boxes of coats lined up in the Commons. These coats weren’t just any coats; instead, they were donations to local families in need.
So, who do we have to thank for this coat drive? Junior Campbell Gore, along with her peers, were behind the scenes making this incredible community service project possible.
“The coat drive was a collective effort. In early fall, we got together a group of LFHS students within the community and assigned each of them coat drive box locations around town,” said Gore. “They collect their coats at the end of each week and drop them off at either my, or Sophia Shader’s, house.”
The goal of the drive was to help as many individuals and families in need stay warm during the winter.
“We also want to create a sense of community within LFHS with students and staff working towards a common cause,” said Gore.
The coat drive was part of an effort inspired by the Mothers Trust Teen Foundation, a North Shore based non-profit that works to help neighboring communities. Their headquarters is in the Gorton Center in downtown Lake Forest.
“I joined the Mothers Trust Teen Foundation my freshman year at LFHS,” Gore said. “The coat drive was passed down from a family friend and, after being recommended for the role, I was eager to join in the cause. We have been working hard to continue to grow the effort into what it has become today.”
The coats are donated and then distributed to families around the North Shore from North Chicago to Waukegan to Vernon Hills− and many other local towns. The coats, hats, gloves, and snow pants are used to keep families in need safe and warm during the winter.
The coat drive this year alone has been a huge success, with 1,200 coats distributed and 200 families helped. Gore was thrilled with this year’s results.
“I was so excited to see so many families in need walk out with coats knowing that they would be warm this winter. We collected more coats than last year; it was really rewarding to see how much the community cares,” said Gore.
Gore and her peers are an inspiration to many. She stresses the importance of helping out families in need and making sure that everyone is comfortable and safe during the winter.
Gore’s efforts show that with planning, diligence and a selfless desire to help other people, real change is possible.
“It’s really important to take care of our neighboring communities. The recreation center in Waukegan that we distribute at is only a ten minute drive from my house. It’s really eye-opening to see that there are others in local communities around the Lake Bluff and Lake Forest area who are struggling to provide for themselves and their families, and I love being able to help them,” said Gore.
