This important initiative came from the amazing work that my 6th grade classes at A.M.S.A. do every year just before Christmas. Right around Thanksgiving, my students start to collect winter hats, gloves and socks for the homeless veterans shelter in Worcester. The hard work, compassion, and dedication of my students have raised over 1,000 gifts since they began. Just before Christmas 2010, a parent of one of my students was up at the Veterans' Homeless Shelter in Worcester (run by Vets, Inc.). She saw a veteran with a Washington Redskins sweatshirt and commented that he was in Patriots' Nation. He quietly responded, "I know, but it is the only shirt I have." This story still brings a tear to my eyes. Absolutely no veteran of our country should be homeless, or without proper clothing. Sweats for Vets collects donated new Boston team sweatshirts and monetary donations in order to purchase them. Starting in October, every sweatshirt is wrapped and at Christmas time they are distributed to over 50 different homeless shelters located throughout New England.