DWC group collecting to aid cleanups

Published: Monday, February 8, 2010

Courtesy photo Some of the Silver Wings group. From the left, Kelsie Winklmann, Shoshana Frank, Shawn Morin, Aubrey Sontag, Samantha Robertson, Daniel Susca, Melissa Pettiford, Alexandra Sobin, Amanda Varricchio, Daniel Snyder, and Mark Gymiski

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NASHUA – Daniel Webster College’s Silver Wings chapter knows you have way too many clothes in your closet these days, and they are providing just the incentive that you might need to get going on a post-holiday clean out, or perhaps even some early spring cleaning.

There’s nothing like taking care of a much needed household task to benefit a very good cause, either.

According to Dan Dionne, the public affairs officer for Silver Wings at DWC, all donations will benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America.

“All of the clothing we receive will be donated to thrift shops throughout the country, and the sale of this clothing will directly benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America in a variety of ways,” said Dionne.

The VVA is the only congressionally chartered organization, Dionne said, and funds will be used to help homeless vets, for substance abuse and crime prevention programs.

While the DWC chapter of Silver Wings is just in its second year, it has been quite active in community service. as well as professional development.

The organization is affiliated with the Arnold Air Society, and although some of its members plan to enter the military after graduation, it is not a requirement by any means to join in its mission. Dionne, who is an engineering major currently in his junior year, got interested in Silver Wings primarily because of its dedication to community service as well as its core mission.

“A big focus is on both personal and professional development of members,” said Dionne. “We do a lot of professional development sessions, and work on things like resume building. The other thing is to build civic awareness of national defense.”

Silver Wings formed during the fall semester in 2008, and quickly went to work. One of its earliest projects was picking up extra food from high schools in Nashua on a regular basis, which was then transported by Silver Wings members to the Nashua Soup Kitchen weekly.

“This really helped the schools to see how much food was being prepared in relation to what their actual need was,” said Dionne.

Other initiatives included the sale of POW/MIA bracelets as a fundraiser along with Red Shirt Friday. This is actually a national effort that the DWC chapter of Silver Wings has joined, in which members wear a red shirt each Friday to show support for servicemen and women and to promote awareness of POWs and MIAs.

“We try to wear red each Friday to raise awareness,” said Dionne. “We explain what it means and encourage others on campus to wear red, as well.”

In 2009, both Arnold Air Society and Silver Wings were honored by Daniel Webster College with the Presidents’ Leadership Award in recognition of the energy and commitment in serving the community.

The organizations were involved in a number of community related activities and worked with a VISTA volunteer to plan a full week’s worth of events helping nonprofits each day for the Martin Luther King Challenge. This is an annual service event held on Martin Luther King Day each January throughout the country.

Marguerite’s Place, a nonprofit transitional housing and supportive services program for homeless women in crisis and their children, was included in DWC’s efforts in 2009.

“It is encouraging to have college age volunteers giving their time and talents to assist us here at Marguerite’s Place,” said Beverly Doolan, director of development and public relations at Marguerite’s Place. “We appreciate their energy and enthusiasm and of course, their maturity in recognizing how “giving back” to a less fortunate community is a way of recognizing the privileges they enjoy as higher education students.”

This year, Silver Wings participated once again in the Martin Luther King Challenge with diverse service projects throughout Nashua, including a game of Family Feud at Nashua Children’s Home, followed by a discussion about college, making dinner for the women and children of Norwell Home, homework assistance and games with kids in the Police Athletic League program, and a painting project for Gateways Community Services.

To learn more about Silver Wings at DWC or the Feb. 12 clothing drive, e-mail Dan Dionne at Dionne_Daniel@dwc.edu or call 318-8188.