What started years ago as an idea from two Winfield-Mt. Union students has grown into a community effort to help the homeless in southeast Iowa.

Government teacher Stephanie Tranmer assigned her students to come up with a project to make a change within their community. Juniors Mollie Hinkle and Liana Sweezer approached her saying they want to provide homeless and domestic abuse shelters with backpacks filled with essential items and warm clothes. Hinkle shares why she wanted to do this project, “I’ve always wanted to help people. I like making as much of a change as I can. I’ve been in situations where I’ve had a lot less than others have so I know how it feels. So I think just giving something to them this holiday season to make their day, or their year, their lifetime, I think it’d be really helpful and just help them look on the brighter side so they can have a brighter future.”

In the last couple weeks the junior class has collected donations from the community, at sporting events, solicited donations from area businesses, and are seeking monetary donations online.

Sweezer describes how this effort is affecting students, “I think for some people it’s been an eye opener because we weren’t aware of how many people are in need in our area. Because originally we just said, ‘Oh, Iowa City homeless,’ but there’s also so many other places we could be donating to. There’s an adolescent shelter we’re going to be donating to, and we’ve really just been able to expand to so much and just really see so much more of what’s happening around us.”

The students will be placing a Christmas tree posted with items they’re still seeking in the lobby of Winfield-Mt. Union High School, and they plan on sending the backpacks to area shelters before Christmas. Leftover donations will be given to the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital. To donate click here.