The cynics in our world are quick to assert that college students live in a self-indulgent, self-centered world where truly being a part of the community where the college is located is simply not a priority.

For some students, that may be true.

It’s certainly not the case, however, for the Iowa Central Community College students who work hard to orchestrate a service project called Share What You Wear. Their commitment to this charitable undertaking illustrates that finding time to help make the world just outside the academic halls a better place is very much a priority for many young folks.

On Dec. 3, the student body will again conduct the annual giveaway of clothing and other items called Share What You Wear.

On that day, Iowa Central students expect to welcome several hundred area residents to the annual Share What You Wear event from 9 a.m. to noon in the Career Education Building. This undertaking has a quite serious purpose: to allow people in need to obtain clothes, bedding, towels, baby items, travel size toiletries, school supplies, household items and toys for free. People in need of those items can go to the Career Education Building, where they will find lots of tables covered with available supplies.

Volunteers will wrap items that are destined to become gifts.

The college’s dental hygiene program will give out free toothbrushes and toothpaste.

A free breakfast and lunch will be served.

But before the students can make any of that happen, the rest of the community has to support them with donations of items for Share What You Wear.

Donated items will be accepted from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Career Education Building. Donations will also be accepted on Dec. 2, while the students are setting up for the event.

Since it takes lots of people to make the effort run smoothly. volunteer help is being accepted. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Jenny Shivers at shivers@iowacentral.edu or (515) 574-1252.

The project began in 2004 as joint effort of the Iowa Central Student Senate and Phi Theta Kappa. It has grown to involve the entire campus community of students, faculty and staff.

We encourage everyone to take a look in their closets and dressers to see if there is anything they don’t wear anymore that could be used by someone else, and then drop those items off at the Career Education Building.

And if anyone has some time available on Saturday morning, we encourage them to consider volunteering for Share What You Wear.