Amnesty collects clothes for a local cause
By Reese Thompson, Reporter

Although Amnesty International is better known for its focus on global human rights causes, the VHS chapter has decided to think locally and host a clothing drive for the homeless youth community in Washington. Donating clothes allows the kids in need to have an important sense of stability, and to feel supported throughout their day.

Based in London, Amnesty International is primarily dedicated to improving the lives of people across the globe who are struggling with a variety of serious issues, such as discrimination and poverty.

“ [Amnesty International is] all over the world … There are bigger things than us, but we like to try on the smaller things, like focusing on the community,” sophomore Alexandra Ryan said. “This clothing drive is one of the things that we do and it’s us helping the community.”

Many people around the world and in Washington don’t have access to clothes, so the Amnesty Club is working to help wherever they can.

“Some people have more than others, and we want to focus on the community, and so sometimes that means helping out people who are less fortunate than others,” Ryan said.

Often people may not be able to spare any money, so hosting a clothing drive allows students to give what they can.

“We want to make sure that people who don’t have that money to donate can [still] donate things, like clothing that they grew out of a few years ago,” Ryan said. “That’s what I love about clothing drives; they are open for anyone to donate.”

Ryan and fellow sophomore Wendy Axtelle are hoping to fill up a box with donated clothes that are in good condition. Ideally, students will bring clothes to donate to the box by the high school office. The sooner the box is filled, the sooner the kids will get new, warm clothes for the holidays.
The goal of this drive is to give to those in need, and make people happy for the holidays.

“We [have problems] on Vashon, we [have problems] all around us that need help too, and we can’t overlook those [problems], so that is kind of what Amnesty’s purpose is — to help nearby and help our community,” Axtelle said.

The school club is small, but welcome to anyone who is interested in providing aid and standing up for human rights.

“We want to help people, and by welcoming all people into our club, and making it a safe space for all people, we are doing as much as we can to make it a safe space for Vashon, and making Vashon a safe space is adding to making the world a safe space,” Axtelle said. “We really value that in Amnesty.”

The Amnesty Club meets in Mr. Tilden’s room on Fridays at lunch.