Staff Writer
Alexis Cassidy

As winter finally makes its appearance here in Rochester, Fisher's Latino Student Union (LSU) is holding a coat drive from Jan. 15 to Jan. 31, with the intentions of collecting unused clothing, coats and footwear to give to the needy of Rochester.

Sophomore Andrew Taylor, LSU's vice president and interim president, said that this community service event has been orchestrated in order for the LSU to reach out to the Fisher campus and community "by asking to donate old clothing and coats so that the less-fortunate people of Rochester can have the opportunity to clothe themselves during the frigid winter." 

Depending on the number of donations they receive, LSU will be giving the donations to charities such as Volunteers of America, Goodwill and Matthew's Closet, as well as to other locations around Rochester.

This is LSU's second annual coat drive, just one of the campus-wide community service events planned for this year at Fisher.  As is stated on LSU's homepage, "LSU is dedicated to giving back to both the campus and local Rochester community". 

The coat drive is one of the many services the club will perform throughout the year as a student organization on the Fisher campus.

"Last year's coat drive was a success and we hope that this year's drive would be even better," Taylor said.

The club is looking for as good a turnout as last year in order to spread the donations out among many different charities.

Since the donations are random and anonymous, an exact figure of last year's donations could not be totaled.  However, "the numbers from last year were outstanding," Taylor said.  Most of the donations come from students, faculty and staff on the Fisher campus.

The club plans to continue the event in future years.

Students who have not had a chance to donate still have time.  Any clothing or footwear can be dropped off in the donation boxes found in each of the dormitories, as well as the box located by the campus bookstore. For more information contact Erica Flores, Jennifer Polanco, Liduirda Cruz, Nina Smolenski, or Nathalia Martinez.