![Watching a small group scrimmage, Ben Lundt, St. Louis City SC goalkeeper and founder of Lundt Pro Soccer Training, shouts words of encouragement to players on Sunday, April 26 n the Lafayette grass soccer field. “The idea behind [the event] was to bring the professional soccer players closer to the community because usually people only get to see us on TV or in the stadium. [Families] actually having the opportunity to have their kids on the field with us is the most important aspect,” Ben Lundt said.](https://lancerfeed.press/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/IMG_6823-1200x800.jpg)
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If you’ve been wondering what to do with all the outgrown coats, jackets, pants and other winter clothing filling your closet, Lafayette’s winter clothing drive is the answer.
Junior Reserved Officer Training Corps (JROTC) is sponsoring its seventh consecutive clothing drive to benefit The St. Patrick’s Homeless Center and Children of Cote Brilliante Elementary School. National Honor Society (NHS) and Matt Landwehr’s Freshman Seminar and Community Service classes will be sponsoring this event.
Students are asked to donate good, used adult or children’s winter clothing. Some acceptable donations include pants, shirts, coats, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, backpacks and gloves. Donations may be brought to Room 282 (NHS), Room 163 (Community Service and Freshman Seminar), or Room 162 (JROTC) any day through Oct. 27.
Last year, Lafayette donated over 3200 items of clothing through this drive, and sponsors are hoping to reach this level again.
NHS sponsor AnnMarie Gilman said her group is participating for the second year. She added, “Last year was rather successful and we wanted to build on that success.”
Col. Mike Berenc, ROTC teacher, said, “[Participation in this drive] signifies a willingness to serve one’s community and very simply it is the right thing to do, not just an endeavor to make yourself look good.”
Adult clothing will be taken to St. Patrick’s Homeless Center and children’s clothing will be taken to Cote Brilliance by ROTC, because they have a sister school relationship with them.