UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State recently concluded its “Warm Hearts” clothing drive. The drive, held in partnership with Skills of Central PA Inc., collected more than 150 new winter-weather items — including hats, scarves, gloves and socks — to benefit community members in need.
Medora Ebersole, education and community programs manager at the center, shared her thoughts on the generous donations.
“There are so many artfully chosen items — some of them even handmade — for protecting ears, hands and feet in extremely cold weather,” she said.
Karry Carr, program specialist at Skills of Central PA Inc., distributed the donated winter accessories to Out of the Cold: Centre County, Housing Transitions (Centre House), Centre Safe, and Burrowes Street Youth Haven. On the evening the items were received at Out of the Cold, the temperature dropped to minus 5 degrees.
The end of the “Warm Hearts” drive coincided with the Center for the Performing Arts' presentation of Los Angeles-based contemporary dance company BodyTraffic at Eisenhower Auditorium. Sponsored by Geisinger, the event included “Fragile Dwellings,” a dance dedicated to the Los Angeles homeless population. The powerful performance was a reminder of the struggles faced by individuals far from and close to home.
“This successful drive demonstrates how the arts can catalyze awareness and offer a meaningful way to contribute to the good work being done in our community for those experiencing housing insecurity,” Ebersole said.
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