New Directions embodies “giving for the holidays” as they supply non-perishables to those experiencing homelessness and help them get back on their feet.
At Overton Park on Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a “Fill the Truck” event will collect non-perishables, including but not limited to pasta, rice, instant potatoes, stuffing, Pine-Sol, toilet paper, paper towels and liquid or spray bleach.
New Directions is the largest homeless shelter in both Horry County and Georgetown County with three different types of shelters, which includes a women’s shelter, men’s shelter and a family shelter.
Professor Angela Fabbri, lecturer and director of professional communication, serves as New Directions’ director of marketing, making events like Fill the Truck possible on campus.
“It’s really the week leading into Thanksgiving where we’re all thinking about, you know, gratitude or meals on our tables when a lot of people in our country are suffering. They have no food on our tables,” Fabbri said. “We go to various locations across the Grand Strand and people just bring non-perishables and literally just fill up the back of the pickup truck and the more canned goods we can get.”
New Directions Student Account Manager Isabella Bonelli, a senior marketing major, explained how having this event can be eye opening for those who are not aware of the hardships people face during the holidays.
“It’s important for everyone to realize, you know, especially with the holidays coming up and we all go home to our families, some people don’t have that luxury and some people, you know, struggle to just provide for their family or to have a nice hot meal on Thanksgiving. So, I think it’s really important for the campus community just to see that New Directions is a really amazing resource for the homeless around Myrtle Beach,” Bonelli said.
Nikki Grace, a senior communications major, explained how such events are important for fostering a good and strong campus community.
“I feel like Conway in general is a really good community, and college students always like to help out with stuff like that. I think it would just get a lot of eyes on it,” Grace said. “I feel like it brings people together. It’s just saying that so many people are helping. I feel like that brings a really good spirit to campus.”
