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The drive, which is hosted by MHS's own Furniture Sharehouse Service Club, will take place at the high school on Saturday, March 15 in hopes of adding to the Sharehouse's over 3,000 families served.
The furniture collected goes to families in need who may have lost their belongings to floods, fires or other destruction, or are moving out of homeless shelters.
Though the Sharehouse has been in operation for seven years, Leslie Garwood of Mamaroneck created the MHS Furniture Sharehouse Service Club and Drive five years ago, while her son attended the school.
A part-time social worker looking for volunteering opportunities, she became involved with the Sharehouse after her son befriended Executive Director Kate Bialo's son.
Garwood said, "My idea to base a drive within the school district came because, you can reach so many households through the school district's communications systems. That's the way to reach a lot of people," she said.
With the help of the student club, which contains about 15 members, the MHS drive has become the biggest, most successful drive the Sharehouse holds every year.
"We always collect two truckloads of furniture every year, and we have over 100 donors who come," she said.
All donations of basic home furniture in good condition received are given to families free of charge.
"We take any kind of basic home furniture, as long as it is something you would be happy to have in your own home. We don't want dirty, ripped or stained things," she said.
The students spend the entire year planning the drive, but also help unload the furniture afterwards.
"I think the experience is good for them because they learn the value of material things. They see people who can afford to be generous with the realization that other people who have very little are so appreciative," she said.
"They become acquainted with the idea that there are people who have to live their lives with things other people give it away."
The drive will take place on March 15 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot at Mamaroneck High School, located at 1000 W. Boston Post Road, rain or shine.
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