Boys collect and deliver for Clothing Drive

Thanks to the hard work of the Community Service Board, St. Mark’s donated more than 3,760 pounds of clothing to local community centers. On Sept. 29, boys loaded up a bus with bags of donations and delivered them to North Dallas Shared Ministries (NDSM). After unloading the clothes, the boys received a tour of the facility from NDSM CEO and St. Mark's grandparent Judy Rorrie.  
 
“I have seen firsthand the dedication of NDSM’s volunteers and how their efforts fulfill a need that is all too common in our city,” said William Morrow ’25, who serves on the St. Mark’s Community Service Board and has worked extensively with NDSM. “It is also important for Marksmen to understand how these organizations support our community, as it helps boys see the connection between their donations and the beneficiaries.” 
 
The next day, Marksmen joined the nonprofit Fighting Homelessness to distribute donated items to homeless citizens. Each Saturday, Fighting Homelessness organizes a distribution event, going directly to those in need, and offering vital items like clothes, shoes, food and water.  
 
"The most rewarding part of the drive was seeing the real-world impact of our donations," Arnav Lahoti ’24 said. Lahoti and Reagan Graeme ’26 co-chaired this year’s Clothing Drive. “By physically dropping off and distributing donations to the people at Fighting Homelessness and other organizations, we could see that our time and effort actually mattered, which was extremely gratifying.” 
 
Throughout the year, students lead drives to gather food, clothes and other supplies for those in need. But forging a human connection makes these efforts all the more tangible to the boys.  
 
“While doing many drives during the year on campus, instances when we go off campus to deliver the donations in person are the most gratifying experiences,” Community Service Director Jorge Correa said. “It teaches our students how to build relationships, how to treat them with respect and dignity.”