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warm winter coats warm<br />
hearts and souls<br />
Trying to inspire change in someone or within a group of individuals can take place without even trying. Inspiration can<br />
come dressed in words or action. That’s what took place in early October 2010, when representatives from the St. Jude<br />
House in Crown Point, Indiana, gave a presentation to the Brown Mackie College – Merrillville Law Club. St. Jude<br />
House provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to the victim’s dependent children. The<br />
facility is accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. Shelter and crisis intervention services are available 24<br />
hours a day, 365 days a year. All services are provided free of charge.<br />
The Law Club, along with other students from the school, organized and held a Law Club Coat Drive from mid-<br />
October through November 2010. The goal of the coat drive was to provide winter clothing for the St. Jude House<br />
residential and non-residential clients who find themselves without adequate clothing for the winter months.<br />
For the Brown Mackie College – Merrillville Law Club and other students, volunteerism gave them a chance to display<br />
their passion and dedication that started with a presentation and resonated into action on the part of the<br />
Law Club.<br />
“The students were so inspired and motivated to conduct the coat drive<br />
for the shelter, they wanted to return the favor,” said Terri Tinder, Law<br />
Club faculty advisor. “Our students were so willing to share whatever<br />
winter clothes they had,” said Law Club member Veronica Orozco.<br />
The Law Club and other student volunteers saw that once they started<br />
volunteering, they ended up realizing how much they got back; and<br />
for them, it was just satisfaction. Volunteering works best when it is<br />
a mutually beneficial experience. It’s a great feeling to be able to help<br />
people and organizations. “Not only did the club members learn about<br />
the services and benefits of shelters like St. Jude House, they also<br />
learned how to feel good about doing something for their community,”<br />
said David Choate, department chair for Legal Studies.<br />
The volunteers worked long and hard, and put in extra hours to make<br />
the coat drive a success. Major goals of the Law Club were to develop<br />
partnerships, give back to the community, and be a positive presence to<br />
inspire others to do the same. In this case, the recipient, St. Jude House,<br />
provided the inspiration that put the school’s Law Club volunteerism<br />
into action.