Annual Winter Warm Up Looking for Gently Used Winter Clothing to Support STUdents

The International Office, in collaboration with the St. Thomas University International Students’ Association and the Students’ Union, is reaching out to the STU community for donations of gently used winter clothing for the annual Winter Warm Up event.

The Winter Warm Up event seeks to support international and domestic students who may have challenges accessing the necessities for winter.

Fourth-year student Political Economy and Communications and Public Policy student Natalia Rodriguez has been helping to coordinate the event since her first year.

Originally from San Jose, Costa Rica, Rodriguez has worked with International Student Coordinator Carrie Monteith-Levesque to gather clothing and facilitate opportunities for students to access winter clothing.

"I wasn't sure about all the things I needed—and looking for affordable options was tricky."

She said international students, in particular, are often in a position where they have to buy all their winter items from scratch—from boots, coats, gloves, and more. She added that many domestic students also struggle to afford updated items while attending university.

“I remember being worried about how I could navigate winter in one of the coldest countries in the world. I wasn't sure about all the things I needed—and looking for affordable options was tricky,” she said.

Rodriguez said she was happy to discover the Winter Warm Up program then and was eager to get involved.

“This event truly provides an opportunity for the STU community to come together and support international and Canadian students to keep warm during winter.

For Rodriguez, this kind of necessary “judgement-free” support helps highlight the tight-knit community at STU.

“One of my favorite memories with the Winter Warm-Up was seeing the donations from a STU staff member, who hand-knit sweaters and winter accessories for students and included lovely notes on them. Also, every year, we have a space for students to leave thank you notes, which always showcase how appreciative they are for this initiative and the people who donate.”

How to Donate:

Donations will be accepted at the STUSU Help Desk in Sir James Dunn Hall, Monday to Friday until 4:00 pm up until Friday, November 5. Donations can also be dropped off to Carrie Monteith-Levesque in George Martin Hall, room 311 during Reading Week up until November 12. They kindly ask that all items to be donated be washed and/or cleaned appropriately. 

Acceptable Items

• Winter Clothing
• Jackets 
• Hats
• Mitts
• Scarves
• Boots
• Blankets 

The event, where students will be able to pick up what they need for winter, will take place Monday, November 15 in Sir James Dunn Hall. 

Please email internationaloffice@stu.ca if you need any other information about what or how to donate.