The blanket drive that is located in the library began last week. It is being organized by both the Multicultural Student Union Club (MSU) and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanos de Aztlán Club (MEChA) to help members in the community keep warm during the winter.

MSU co-president sophomore Austin Gardner helped get everyone together during lunch to create posters that would notify people about the blanket drive.

“[MSU and MEChA] wanted to find ways to help the people in our community,” Gardner said. “The blanket drive was a good option for us because no one else really thought of it, and it was beneficial to keeping people warm.”

The library staff was asked if the donated blankets could be kept there by the leaders of MSU and MEChA. Although it came as a surprise, they were happy to offer the space for the drive.

Tracey Kent, a librarian who has worked here for over seven years has not experienced a blanket drive before.

“What surprised me was how much people are willing to help out,” Kent said.

According to Karen Bildsoe, a sophomore member of MSU, they received several blankets on the first day they put up the posters. Although warmly welcomed, the sponsors did not expect to collect any blankets on the same day they put up the signs.

A large bag can be found in the library, completely filled up with blankets.

At first, MSU and MEChA wanted to put the donation box at the front of the school, but fearing that some of the blankets would be taken, they decided that the best place was the library.

“We decided the library was the best place because it was a central gathering place and since the library always had staff members there to monitor students and make sure no blankets were taken,” Gardner said.

Student Council and Renaissance are also pitching in for the blanket drive. They plan to gather together and make blankets to donate to the drive.

MSU and MEChA members also asked friends and families for help. Some members were able to get peers to promise to donate a gently used blanket.

“If we keep up this pace, we can get quite an efficient amount of blankets,” Bildsoe said.

All the collected blankets will be donated to the Portland Rescue Mission and distributed to the needy members of the community.