Baker students and local clothing stores are getting into the holiday spirit by organizing donations and getting involved in charities.

Senior Ashley Houchin, an employee of the Gap, said the Lawrence store got together with other area Gaps and took donations from their employees to donate to the Safehome women’s shelter in Kansas City, Kan.

The donations were completely voluntary and were accepted from the employees until Nov. 30. The Gap then took the new donations to the shelter so the families who are living there could pick out gifts for each other.

Houchin said she decided she would take additional donations to add to the clothing storage at the Safehome shelter and received quite a few donations of gently used clothing from her fellow sorority members. She is also donating two boxes of books.

“I decided I would help out personally because I know that everyone will be cleaning out their closets,” she said.

The Gap is not the only popular clothing store that has organized donations this year. According to its Web site, Macy’s is having its sixth annual national Thanks for Sharing holiday rewards program. This program allows customers to give back to their community while they shop.

Kaitlin Emig, coordinator of service-learning and volunteering, said she has helped organize service-learning projects and volunteer opportunities for students here on Baker’s campus.

Emig currently is working on a fundraiser called “Up ’til Dawn” to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“Volunteering provides everyone an opportunity to give back to something they feel passionate about,” Emig said. “I believe there is a lot to learn from service to others.”

Emig said a lot of organizations, whether national or local, are trying to improve business by giving back.

“It is a way to (market) their name, but they are also showing that volunteering is important,” Emig said.

Sophomore Bryce Lathrop volunteered his time Nov. 25 at the Jubilee Café in Lawrence because he thinks it’s important to give back to others.

“Every now and then you need to donate your time to others,” he said.

Lathrop said he has not been involved in any clothing drives this season but would definitely be interested in participating. He said large corporations holding clothing drives and accepting donations is a great idea as long as it is going toward the right place.

“I think mass donors like that can make the largest impacts, but everyone can make some sort of impact,” Lathrop said.