Saint Peter Public Schools

Quinn’s Closet at North warm clothing drive attracted another large crowd on Friday, Nov. 21, at the North Elementary gym. Those attending were able to find a wide variety of warm clothing items as well as books, toys, and school supplies. The event was organized by SPHS senior Quinn Rassbach during her fourth-grade year (2017-18) with the help of her then-teacher Mrs. Landsteiner, and the drive has been held every year but one, due to the pandemic, since it started.

This year was the first year that new organizers, Anya Stoll, Maya Knutson, and Himalaya Harrison were involved in all facets of running the event to help those in need during the upcoming winter and holiday season. Rassbach has been working with them on the transition prior to the event, and she was on hand to answer questions as well as helping out with the set up and clean up. 

“I think that the event went well for our first time. We didn't have many issues with the event's organization or the actual event,” Knutson said. “The transition also went well, and I look forward to being able to carry on Quinn's legacy. I am so glad that Quinn was a good teacher in training us to run the event, because there are lots of minor details that I wouldn't have thought about that she had already planned out, such as getting the big boxes for collecting the clothes.” 

Collection bins were set up at SPHS, Saint Peter Middle School, North Elementary, and South Elementary where students and staff dropped off donations of clean, new, or gently used clothes, including hats, mittens, snow pants, jackets, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Monetary donations were also accepted, and those proceeds were used to purchase much-needed clothes.  In the past few years, Rassbach and her crew have also been accepting donations such as books, toys, and school supplies.

Collectively, the new organizers felt the turnout was strong and they were please a good portion of the donated items were given away. Any remaining items will be donated to the local homeless shelter.

“We had a huge line of people waiting at the doors and a big rush for about the first 45 minutes,” Stoll said. “After about an hour, things started to slow down. We had so many items go so we were able to pack up a little bit of stuff. We had a couple more people towards the end.”

“The turnout of people was amazing,” Harrison said. “At the beginning of the event we had five racks of winter apparel, at the end of the event there was one rack of winter clothing left. We appreciate everybody that came to the event and love this opportunity to provide for the community."

Above and below are some submitted photos of the volunteers who helped out with this year’s drive!