The third annual Pioneers for People coat drive, hosted by the Staff Advisory Council, began collecting coats and other cold weather items to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission last Friday.

The drive will continue through Jan. 20.

Students, faculty and staff are asked to donate any cold weather items they are able to including coats, hats, scarves and gloves.

There are 22 collection bins placed located on campus. 

According to Christa Bruning, president of the Staff Advisory Council and co-chair of the coat drive, the most popular locations are the Ritchie Center because of the high amount of traffic during sporting events.

The residence halls and sorority and fraternity homes are also some of the most used donation centers. 

The drive benefits the Denver Rescue Mission, an organization which has several locations and shelters around the city of Denver. The mission takes all of the items collected, cleans them and distributes them to those in need at their different locations. 

The first drive collected over 1,300 coats. 

The goal is to help whoever they are able to, according to Bruning. 

“Each year we collect any cold weather items we can for people who need them. The goal is to help those we can,” said Bruning.

“All the support we can get collecting coats to help the homeless would be great,” said Kathy Aliaga, co-chair of the coat drive.

For a full list of all of the collection centers on campus, visit du.edu/staff.