Seneca Valley senior spearheads coat drive
JACKSON TWP — Teresa Leatherow often reflects on how blessed she is around the holidays, and this Christmas the Seneca Valley senior is doing her part to spread warmth and cheer to those who need it most.
Teresa, 17, is spearheading a coat drive in conjunction with Seneca Valley's Key Club, an organization that focuses on charitable service and giving.
The group has already collected more than 80 coats that will be hand-delivered by students to the homeless in Pittsburgh, although the Key Club is also collecting hats, socks and other winter apparel.
Teresa, who is graduating in the spring and will likely move away for college, said she wanted her high school career to “go out with a bang” with the biggest coat drive yet.
“The student body at Seneca Valley has a very diverse background and socioeconomic status,” she said. “The coat drive allows students to contribute something to those who don't have as much as we have, and maybe helps them realize how blessed we are.”
It was a very easy decision to help the homeless, Teresa said, especially with the onset of winter and the holiday spirit floating in the air.
“Some of these people, their best case scenario is sleeping on a bench,” she said. “They are truly needy, and they need things we take for granted on a daily basis. Not having heat and basic necessities, I can't even begin to imagine.”
The Key Club has undertaken a coat drive every year for the last seven years, and Teresa has been involved in four of those during her high school career.
In charge of the efforts this year, Teresa stepped it up a notch and took her message to community groups and other entities that could help.
“This year has already topped past years,” she said. “This was my last opportunity to make a difference at the local level so I reached out to a lot of different organizations like the (Cranberry Township Sunrise Rotary Club) to help.”
Teresa also asked her church community for help, and her father's place of employment, L.B. Foster Company, also helped to spread the word by making it their “holiday project.”
Teresa said the club will continue collecting coats and other items until Dec. 18. At least six students from the school will travel to Pittsburgh on Dec. 19 to distribute the items to the homeless on the Boulevard of the Allies.
Linda Andreassi, director of communications for the school district, said Thursday morning Teresa is an “exceptional student who possesses the natural skills and characteristic of a leader.”
It doesn't surprise her that Teresa had put together the most ambitious coat drive yet, and added the school will also help spread the word about the drive through its social media channels.
“We applaud her efforts, and the efforts of her fellow Key Club members, for serving our community in such a beneficial way,” she said. “Part of our mission here at Seneca Valley is to teach students civic responsibility and global awareness. Seeing it in action is confirmation that the message is being received.”
Anyone interested in donating can e-mail Teresa for information at tleatherow03@gmail.com.
