NWHS Refugee Drive

The International Club at Northwest High School as well as Waukee High School is running a drive to donate items to the Des Moines Refugee Support Group. Items such as clothes, household items, hygiene items, and children’s items. The drive goes from January 18 to February 18, 2022. Students can leave items at the front door of the school under the large blue sign, where international club members collect the items and donate them to the Refugee Support Group.

Refugees are people who have fled their own country from war, persecution, or natural disasters to find refuge in another country. The donation drive is to help those people who do not have items that they need. They may not have enough clothes, soap, or shampoo. The organization that the donation goes to is called Des Moines Refugee Support group. Supervisor of the International club, Frau Ely, stated, “The Des Moines Refugee Support group was started by teachers in the Des Moines Public School district to support families of students.” This year, the drive is benefiting refugees from Afghanistan.  A member of the International Club, sophomore Carly Rau, added, “[The drive] is benefiting the people who are part of the Des Moines Refugee Support Group, and we’re trying to put all of these things together, [and] trying to make sure that these refugees can have clothes, and extra toiletries and all of this stuff.” 

International Club is a club with members from many different backgrounds and cultures. The club meets every Thursday morning to make plans for a variety of different activities. The Refugee Drive was a new tradition that started last year. The International Club President, senior Serra Aiello, explained, “We did this drive last year, and it was a huge success, and so we’re hoping to replicate those results this year as well, to help out those in our community.” The club has other projects they have worked on, such as a class where students can learn dances from places all around the world.

Many people have these items necessary around their house. The international Club asks each student to look around and donate something small if they can. The list of items are hoodies, sweatpants, sneakers, unopened laundry detergent, dish soap, sponges, new towels, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, feminine items, baby bath soap, baby clothes, children’s clothes, diapers and wipes, and new underwear and socks. Aiello suggested, “If most people in the school could just contribute a little bit it could end up making a huge difference for a lot of people. If you can, please help us with the drive, and if not, at least encourage your friends to help.”