Winter clothing donation campaign: an extension project

Introduction: With the increase in the intensity of the cold in winter, homeless people, a naturally vulnerable population, go through difficult periods facing the cold and hunger without the help of government. Thus, the winter clothing donation campaign was created, a project designed to collect and distribute clothes to the homeless people of Catanduva with the colaboration of the Family and Community Medicine League, Community Support Group and the Street Clinic. Objectives: To raise clothing, blankets and money, then donate to homeless people, as well as to encourage the contact between medical students and people in social vulnerability. Methods: Winter items and clothing were collected over the months of May and June, with collection locations distributed throughout popular premises of the city. The distribuition took place on the 23rd of June, while simultaneously engaging in dialogue with the people in need, in order to understand their difficulties and necessities. Results: The campaign was able to highlight the social vulnerability of homeless people, especially in winter. Therewith, over the course of 1 month, 61 students donated over 200 items in good condition, including coats, socks, pants, shoes and blankets. Conclusions: This donation campaign evidenced the lack of aid that vulnerable population go through, contrasting how significant basic clothing items and dialogue mean to their lives. Therefore, even though this extension project was able to offer assistance to these people, the need for similar projects is recognized.