Girl Up to hold donation drive for San Jose women’s shelter

Saratoga’s Girl Up club is planning a donation drive on Jan. 22 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the McAfee Center. The event aims to help out local shelters through donating items. 

The drive will occur during the school’s annual Speak Up For Change week. Instead of placing donations in bins located around the school as drives occur in normal times, the event will be a drive-thru where people drop off items in front of the MacAfee. The process will be contactless, and donors will be entered into a raffle for a $20 gift card. 

“There won't be any physical contact or exposure to others,” said Girl Up treasurer Nithya Koneru. “People do not even have to get out of their cars, so it is completely safe.”. 

The club seeks donations for new personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies as well as blankets, towels, masks, wipes and clothing. All items will be donated to LifeMoves’ Georgia Travis Women’s Shelter, which provides interim shelter for homeless families and single women in San Jose.

“Especially because of the pandemic, I think it's important the shelters have the supplies they need to support people who need a warm and safe place to stay, Girl Up co-president Allison Hartley said. “I hope that by donating these items we can give the shelter one less thing to worry about.”