To the Editor:

I would like to highlight the recent work of the Amherst and Brookline NH Lions in their tremendous feat in donating 1018 warm clothing items for the brutal 2010-2011 winter season.

While it is common that many organizations give charitably during the Holiday season, it should be pointed out that Amherst and Brookline Lions Clubs went above and beyond collecting items through Jan 15th, beyond the Holiday season. The Amherst Lions donated their 681 socks, scarves, hats and mittens and coats to Mount Vernon Elementary, Clark Elementary, and Wilkins Elementary. Brookline Lions donated their 337 to the Brookline Welfare Department, Richard Maghakian Memorial School and Captain Samual Douglass Academy. Further, items were donated to the Anne Marie House, a homeless shelter in Hudson.

In doing this the NH Lions also partnered with UNH Thompson School’s Community Leadership program and UNH Manchester’s Warmth from the Millyard, in further pledging their support for the 2011-2012 clothing drive.

The Warmth from the Millyard project aids in meeting the community need for winter clothing. Since 2007, students at UNH Manchester have collected and distributed lightly used winter clothing to local receiving organizations and have been able to raise awareness of poverty in the state of New Hampshire. Through their web-based matching system, Warmth From the Millyard is able to match recipient organizations in need with donor groups and businesses that collect and distribute donated items. Creating individual partnerships between donors and recipients allows a personal relationship to develop a feeling of community involvement. In 2010-2011 20,000 items of warm clothing were collected and donated in NH of which the NH Lions donated 38% overall.

On behalf of UNH, UNH Manchester, and the Community Leadership Program, we at Warmth From the Millyard would like to thank them and make the greater Hollis, Brookline, Amherst aware of this amazing work. The greater community is lucky to have these dedicated individuals.

SARAH MOECKEL

NH Lions Project Manager

Warmth From the Millyard at UNH Manchester

Community Leadership Program

Thompson School of Applied Science

University of New Hampshire