'Fill the Bus' falls short of goal

A struggling economy and cold temperatures have made warm clothing a greater necessity, but the sixth annual “Fill the Bus “ event failed to completely fill a Campus Circulator Monday.

Co-coordinator Holly Love said the goal was to bring in 10,000 pieces of clothing, but less than half of that — about 3,000 — was donated.

The clothes went to People Serving People, a homeless shelter and community outreach center in downtown Minneapolis.

Love, an agriculture industries and marketing senior, said a lack of publicity was mainly to blame for the low turnout, as well as holding the event on a Monday following a holiday.

In previous years, Love said the event included free gift certificates given by Stadium Village businesses for those who donated items, but the businesses declined such offers this year, citing economic reasons.

TCF Bank, however, was able to give a grant worth more than $1,000, Love said, which helped fund the basic logistics of the event, like transportation of the clothing and advertising.

Love said there’s a major need for an event like this in the University community.

“With the economic crisis we’re in, and the amount of people who are out of their homes,” she said, “students need to step it up. It’s a great way to give back to the community.”

Jim Minor, the CEO and president of People Serving People, said he looks forward to this event every year.

“It’s really overpowering, and it’s highly accepted here as a great gift,” he said.

People Serving People houses 336 people who have temporary-living situations, Minor said. The 100-room family shelter and community service center is in its 27th year of operation.

“We have new families coming every day and one of the first things that we notice regularly is that they’re not adequately dressed,” Minor said.

People Serving People has been filled to its capacity for almost 15 months and the number of families there is the highest it’s been in eight years, Minor said.

“There are families that become homeless that would have never thought they’d be homeless,” he said.

Job loss or disabilities can cause them to miss a mortgage or rent payment and all of a sudden, they’re faced with no housing, he said.

Mike Collins, a part-time University student, brought coats to help fill the bus.

“It’s very ethical, very responsible,” he said.

Tony Wagner, a Phi Delta Theta member, helped plan the event and volunteered, as did 19 of his fellow fraternity brothers.

“Above all, it’s always important to help others,” he said. “If we learn it at a younger age, then we’ll be better at serving our peers in the future.”