By Kary Patron / News Editor

With winter approaching and temperatures dropping, Missouri Valley College is hosting its annual coat drive. This year, the International Office is organizing the event. Donations of gently used or new coats, gloves, hats, and scarves can be dropped off at the International Office in Ferguson Center until Nov. 12.

“We already have a few jackets and coats donated,” said Yesenia Farfan, director of International Admissions. “But we need more. Many students come from overseas with just the basics, arriving in summer with only warm-weather clothes.”

Approximately 25% of MVC students are international, and 236 freshmen are from out-of-state. Unfamiliar with Missouri’s climate, these students often underestimate the winter cold.

Natasha Louw, International Office graduate assistant and a beneficiary of the coat drive during her first year at Missouri Valley, is now helping organize the event. Louw, from South Africa, is used to a milder climate where temperatures seldom drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

“International students don’t know what to expect,” Louw said. “So, it’s helpful when the community and staff, accustomed to the weather here, donate to help someone stay warm over the winter.”

The drive also supports students who can’t afford much cold-weather clothing upon arrival in Missouri.

“It helps those of us who come here with limited funds,” said Smangaliso Ntuli, an international student. “Especially with currency differences, things can be pricey at first. Donations ease the worry of freezing and help us be better prepared for winter.”

For more information, contact the International Office at international@moval.edu or call 660-831-4125.