Green-Fields Students Collecting Jeans for the Homeless

When the students in Gaetan Pappalrdo’s third-grade class at were learning about poverty, something jumped out: There was one thing homeless kids requested more often than anything else.

A decent pair of jeans.

“I was really surprised by that,” Pappalardo said.

So the kids both in his class an others at Green-Fields Elementary decided to do something about it, and are taking part in the fifth annual Teens for Jeans program, a nationwide effort that’s helped collect and donate 1.5 million pairs of jeans to homeless shelters around the country.

Halfway through the collection effort, students in Pappalardo’s class have already amassed a sizable pile of jeans, with more just like it in neighboring classrooms.

The drive is running through Feb. 12 at Green-Fields via four classrooms; third-grade teachers Jennifer Hawkins, Mary Jacobs and Pappalardo are running donation spots, as well as fourth-grade teacher Joanne Keating.

Jeans can be any size, from toddler on up through adult sizes, and should either be new or gently worn, with no holes, tears or worn-out spots.

At the end of the collection, the donated jeans will go to Aeropostale in the Deptford Mall, which will send them on, along with other donations, to the Coalition for the Homeless in New York.