Whether boot cut, relaxed fit, skinny, slim fit, straight cut, low-rise or whatever, Emmelina Bales want those jeans that you might consider tossing away or haven’t worn for a long while.
She’s serious.
The Ada High School senior jeans collection is part of a “Teens of Jeans” drive underway this month. As of Friday her efforts have gathers 65 pairs. That’s impressive after only one week of collecting jeans.
“Teens for Jeans” inspires teens to make a difference, stating: “Over one million young people experience homelessness in North American every year. Teens for Jeans has donated 4.3 million pair of jeans in the past seven years.”
Emmelina decided she, too, wants to make a difference. And, she’ll accept any color, any brand and any size of jean – lightly worn, please.
What inspired this?
She replies: “I work at Aeropostale in the Lima Mall. The company works with the organization “Do Something.” One of their campaigns is Teens for Jeans.”
With the aid of her friend, Liz Selover, also an Ada senior, the two placed six collection bins in the school plus one at the ONU Law School, and another in an Ada church.
Her collection drive goes through Feb. 10. When the collection ends the two will fold all the donations and take them to the Lima Mall where they are collecting all the donations.
When Emmelina isn’t collecting jeans, she’s taking a full load of high school classes and three classes at ONU. This fall she was captain of the Ada girls’ soccer team and is a member of the Ohio Extreme Soccer U18 girls’ team. She also finds time to play piano at The Inn at ONU.
The jeans collection project is right up her ally as her future plans include majoring in business in college with the intention of continuing in graduate school.
As for Liz, she has plans to become a pediatric nurse. Next year she’ll attend Clark State in Springfield.
She also has lots of pediatric experience, as she loves to babysit. The children she works with range from ages 1 ½ to 10.
Icon viewers are encouraged to participate in the jean collection.
Drop off denims or give them to Ada school students to drop off at bins at the school. One is in the high school office.
So far, one donor dropped off 12 pair of jeans and another 11.
“I’ve learned a lot in this project,” says Emmelina. “There are a lot of good things happening and I appreciate all the help and support from the community.”
Remember: The donation deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 10.
