Students Host Clothing Drive at Novi Library

Cleaning out your closet for the summer season? Pack up your gently used clothes and bring them to the to donate to people in need from May 14-19.

The clothing drive is organized by Library Board student representatives Nishant Kakar and Torry Yu, who are both 17 years old. Nishant is a junior at , while Torry is a junior at Walled Lake Western High School.

As student reps, the two are in charge of distributing library information to their schools and attending Library Board meetings, but they decided they wanted to do more for the community this year.

"The whole point of doing the Library Board is to represent students and do community work in itself, but we didn't really do anything big, so this is our way of doing a big thing that we can take charge of," Nishant said.

Donated clothes will be given to the in Novi, which runs a program called Clothes Closet. The church collects clothing for every age and gender. Every Friday, volunteers take the clothing racks out into the parking lot to give to Oakland County residents in need.

People who wish to receive the donated clothes at Holy Family must fill out an application and make an appointment. The church sees nearly 50 people every week.

In addition to partnering with Holy Family, Nishant and Torry also connected with Novi High School, Walled Lake Western High School and Northville High School's Interact Clubs, whose members will help sort the clothes after the drive is over.

"It's our first year, so we're hoping that it's a good turnout," Torry said.

Clothing should be washed and brought in bags to place in the tubs in the library's lobby. Clothes for all ages, shoes and linens can be donated. Tax sheets will be available for those who donate.

Margi Karp-Opperer, the assistant director of public services at the library, is helping the boys organize the project, which she hopes will be repeated next year.

"Whatever we do will be a success, even if it's a small amount," Karp-Opperer said.

The library is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.