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Winter clothing donations can support students without a suitable wardrobe for frigid temperatures.
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National data shows college students often struggle to pay for additional expenses or basic needs, such as food and housing. Over half of survey respondents indicated they would have difficulty finding $500 in cash or credit for an emergency, according to a 2023 Trellis Research survey.
For cash-strapped college students, purchasing clothing can be a luxury or a burden, depending on the level of need.
Many colleges and universities offer clothing loans or donations of professional dress to equip students for internships and interviews, but appropriate clothing for inclement weather can be another need.
Hosting a clothing drive or providing a clothing bank with warm coats and other essentials can be one way to support students’ physical and financial well-being.
Caught in the cold: One reason students may be ill equipped to encounter the cold could be unfamiliarity with the region and its weather patterns.
Around 22 percent of all undergraduate students are out-of-state students, according to fall 2020 data analyzed by the Institute for College Access and Success. A 2021 analysis by Hire a Helper found 31 percent of newly admitted students moved to a different state for fall 2020. While California is the most popular destination for out-of-state students, other top destinations experience cold winters, including Colorado, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
International students, similarly, may be unaware of weather in the U.S. or in their campus location.
Additionally, more states are experiencing inclement weather during the winter months, with hundreds of colleges and universities in the South closing their campuses this winter due to snow and icy conditions. Random weather events can also catch students off guard and leave them unprepared to face the cold.
Collecting coats: This is Montana Technological University’s first winter offering a student coat donation spot, called the Casual Clothing Closet, to support winter clothing needs. The closet supports international students and others who may lack warm clothes due to limited personal belongings from travel or geographical changes.
As the year goes on, Montana Tech officials envision providing work pants and steel-toed boots for trade classes and work, as needed, according to a university press release.
North Carolina State University hosts an annual Wolfpack Winter Coat and Clothing Drive to collect new and gently used winter clothing, including coats, jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, mittens, socks and other winter essentials. Items are given to students and staff in need on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Basic Needs Collective at the University of Utah also hosts a winter clothing drive each year at the campus thrift shop. In addition to coats, the university offers snow boots, sweaters, hats and gloves in sizes ranging from extra-small to 4X.
The University of Maryland Baltimore County offers a winter coat drive at the institution’s basic needs pantry, Retriever Essentials, which is open to all community members. Filled with donated coats, gloves, beanies and scarves, the winter coat closet is available during Essentials’ open hours.
Morgan State University accepts donations for winter clothing items to its Food Resource Center and also includes hats and socks on an Amazon wish list to supplement the center’s donations.
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