Marist Hosts Dutchess Outreach Coat Drive Donation at Hancock Center

The Hancock Center where students and faculty can donate winter coats. Photo by Jack Torry '26

As the bitter cold of winter slowly approaches us, Marist University is teaming up with the Dutchess Outreach organization to host the annual Susan Dekeukelaere Coat Drive during October.

The collection site on the Marist campus will be located in the Hancock Center from Oct. 1 until Oct. 31, where students and faculty can donate winter jackets and coats. 

The drop-off location in the Hancock Center is one of 19 collection sites, all located in Dutchess County. They are welcoming donations, including both heavy men's and women's jackets in good condition, as well as children's coats. 

This annual coat drive, which helps hundreds of Dutchess County residents, is named after the late Susan Dekeukelaere, whose tireless effort in giving back to her community helped those in need. 

Whether it was preparing food or organizing food and coat drives, Dekeukelaere dedicated countless hours to giving back to her fellow Dutchess County residents. 

Now, in her honor, Marist students and faculty can also take an active role in our community, much like Dekeukelaere, by donating coats in wearable condition to help keep others warm in the frost of the winter months. 

A member of the Marist community following in the footsteps of Dekeukelaere is Assistant Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs, Karen Burke. Upon returning to college in 2009, she enrolled in a course that required a praxis project. This project asked students to combine academic research with community service.

Taking into account the impending harshness of the winter season, Burke realized the outstanding need for winter coats in the local community. 

“I organized a coat collection on campus, delivered the donations, and helped distribute them. It was during this distribution that I realized the project needed to continue,” said Burke. 

It has now been 17 years since Burke started collecting coats at Marist. 

“I am deeply grateful to be part of such a generous and wonderful group of people who have supported this effort over the years,” Burke said. 

The coat drive offers members of the Marist community an opportunity to make a positive impact in the surrounding areas by making sure that our neighbors have access to appropriate garments suitable for low temperatures. 

“I’ll never forget a little girl who tried on a pink puffer jacket, lit up with joy and asked her mother if she could keep it,” said Burke. “Another moment that stayed with me was a teenage girl who initially seemed reluctant and embarrassed, but after finding a coat that fit, left with gratitude. She returned shortly after just to say ‘thank you.’”

The collection site at Marist is but one of numerous donation locations that help facilitate the  Dutchess Outreach Organization's goal of making a lasting impact on individuals in the local community, one person at a time. 

“Those experiences made it clear that even helping one person could make a lasting impact,” said Burke.