Comforting hug items being collected for Delaware children through Feb. 28

The Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens is again collaborating with community partners like the Office of Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, Capital School District, the Organization of Adult Alumni and Students in Service, Delaware State University Pinnacle Honor Society Zeta Phi Beta, and Camden Walmart to launch a three-month drive to collect "hugs" for Delaware's underserved children. On the heels of last year's successful drive, which saw thousands of items distributed to children who were homeless, inadequately housed or in foster care throughout the state, this year's campaign is an initiative to collect a wider range of items for the same cause.

Heart 2 Heart Hugs is a statewide drive with various organizations and companies throughout the state offering their time and resources to collect and deliver new or handmade items to Delaware's nearly 5,000 children who are homeless or in foster care. Items range from sleeping bags to sweatshirts, socks, blankets and more.

"Out of the nearly 5,000 children who are homeless, under housed, or in foster care, approximately one-third of them are children with disabilities," said Wendy Strauss, executive director of the GACEC, which serves as the state advisory panel for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and its amendments.

Heart 2 Heart Hugs begins collecting in November and will continue through February 2018. Drop-off points in Sussex Country are at Sussex Tech and Woodbridge high schools. For more information or to volunteer, go to www.gacec.delaware.gov or call 302-739-4553.