Spring cleaning is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to clear out excess backpacks, duffel bag and cosmetic bags, all for a good cause.

A donation drive is being held at St. Aloysius High School through Friday to collect bags for the Warren County Children’s Shelter, said Jordan Amborn, an English teacher at St. Aloysius.

“The purpose of the bags is for children who come to the shelter without anything to carry their belongings,” she said. “Many come with their belongings in garbage bags or grocery bags.”

Amborn said she first learned about the program while browsing Facebook and noticed there weren’t any drop-off locations located in Vicksburg, so she wanted to get her school involved.

“We do a lot of service for the community, and I just thought this would be another way to be involved in a way we haven’t before,” she said. “Plus I’m in Junior Auxiliary, and we work with the children’s shelter, so it was kind of two-fold for me.”

Friday, a large donation was dropped off at the school by students from Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center. The center’s teacher Rebecca Busby said the drive was something she and her students wanted to support.

“They love being a part of the community and coming out and seeing friends,” she said.” she said. “I think this is important. It’s an important life skill, and it’s important to teach them to give back to the community.”

Busby said several of the students brought in donations, but the mother of one student really went above and beyond.

That mother, Brenda Brown, rallied friends and colleagues from the Vicksburg Warren School District Transportation Department to collect 30 bags, which were delivered to St. Aloysius Friday.

“When they sent the letter home that they would be collecting bags for the Warren County Children’s Shelter, I decided to get my coworkers and friends to bring some bags,” she said. “I felt like it was a worthy cause because the children are leaving that shelter with their clothes in a garbage bag, and that really bothered me. I try to help out when I can.”