When Associate Professor Kelly Cunningham opened his closet recently, he saw Elmhurst College gear, shirts and sweatpants staring back at him.
“I thought, ‘Gee, what am I going to do with this now that we’ve become a University?’” he said. “I figured a lot of individuals were in the same boat.”
Then he wondered whether the clothing might help serve a good cause. Cunningham took the idea to the University’s Innovation Committee, and the Bluejay Clothing Drive was born.
Starting Monday, Oct. 4, donors can drop off clean clothing, including children’s items—Elmhurst College-branded or not—in nine bins placed around campus. Each Friday through Oct. 29, donations will be collected and delivered to Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, which supports DuPage County PADS and other charitable organizations in need of clothing.
Holly Hayward, who is pursuing her MBA, helped Cunningham with the project after his idea took off.
For additional support, Hayward recommended enlisting Phi Mu sorority members in search of service hours. The sorority contributed by designing and decorating the collection bins. Sorority members also will gather, sort and deliver clothing to the church.
More help arrived from the eCampus Spirit Shop, which is donating Elmhurst College gear and apparel to the cause. So is the athletic department. In addition, all employees can receive a 20 percent discount on new Elmhurst University merchandise at the Spirit Shop on Oct. 20 and 21, with presentation of their JayPass.
Donors can find collection bins in the following locations:
- Daniels Hall: Main floor outside the graduate admission office
- Faganel Hall: Main entrance
- Frick Center: Main floor and lower level
- Goebel Hall: Main floor entrance
- Lehmann Hall: Lower level (G)
- A.C. Buehler Library: Main vestibule
- Koplin Memorial Hall: Main floor outside the admission office
- Schaible Hall: Main entrance
Cunningham is confident that the campus community will donate generously. “The faculty, staff and students always seem to rally around certain causes and events,” he said. “I think that’s wonderful.”