Eighth-grader collects clothes for impoverished youth

One Dartmouth eighth-grader has taken it upon herself to make sure kids in need across the commonwealth are able to be clothed.

Recently, Dartmouth Middle School student Annica Dupre ran clothing drives outside Dartmouth Middle School and Quinn Elementary as part of her ambassadorship with the youth service nonprofit Project 351.

Project 351 was started in 2011 by then-Governor Deval Patrick as a way to commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by focusing on youth leadership, statewide unity, and community service.

For her spring service project, the Dartmouth middle schooler collected used clothing to give to children across the commonwealth who are struggling with poverty or homelessness.

According to the United States Interagency on Homelessness, 24,658 students across Massachusetts experienced homelessness as of 2020.

“Although a new set of clothes will not save kids from poverty, it will provide them with joy, comfort, and dignity,” Dupre said. “They deserve the pride of putting on a nice shirt or a new pair of pants.”

Over the course of three days, the eight-grader was able to fill dozens of bags and boxes with clothes, all of which were sent to the Boston chapter of Cradles to Crayons — a nonprofit that provides children with essentials such as clothing and school supplies free of charge. 

Dupre was nominated to be the middle school’s ambassador by eighth grade guidance counselor Diane Massari.

She said Dupre was selected because of her ability to be a “quiet leader” who is also full of compassion for others.

“She wants to make a difference,” Massari said. “Kindness, compassion, gratitude, humility — she has all those qualities.”

Along with being the middle school’s ambassador to the statewide program, Dupre is in the school’s national junior honor society.

Massari noted that while she was initially concerned that Dupre being an ambassador could be too much to handle on top of all she already does, the eighth-grader immediately told her she was up to the task.

“I would meet with her periodically and she was just on top of everything,” she said. “She’s really a great girl — an absolute gem.”

Dupre thanked Massari for the recommendation to the project, along with all those who made the clothing drive possible, including her family for letting her “stuff all the clothes in their car.”

She added that more Project 351 services will be coming in the future.

“Dartmouth should keep their eyes open,” Dupre said.