In a world where we are often consumed with our own lives and priorities, it’s always refreshing to hear about young people who are helping others. Such is the case with a COD student, Jahongir Azizov, who has made it his mission to collect clothes, food and toiletries for the support of homeless people.

Azizov is a part of the Community College Initiative, an exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of the State. As one  of the pillars of the program, he must do a project that impacts his community. Azizov started his Community Impact Project (CIP) in November, and he did not have anyone else on his team. He put up flyers around campus to raise awareness about his project and started by collecting toiletries, which he brought to DuPage Pads, an organization that aims to end homelessness in DuPage County.

However, Azizov wasn’t content to stop there. He reached out to COD Cares, which also works with homeless communities, and volunteered to help make bags of cold food. These bags included tea, coffee, ramen, candies and other snacks that could help those in need.

“I asked people to donate gently used clothes and toiletries, such as soap, toothbrushes and shampoo, to help those in need,” Azizov said. “I got much more than I asked for, and COD students were very helpful.”

Then, he decided to take on a bigger challenge by starting to collect clothes. He put up more flyers around campus and soon found he had collected hundreds of items for men, women and children. COD students generously donated and helped to collect the needed items. Once again, he brought these items to DuPage Pads to be distributed to those who needed them most.

In addition to his collecting efforts, Azizov also took the opportunity to share his project with others. He was invited to speak as one of the panelists at a Community College Initiative (CCI) event in Alexandria, Va, where he talked about what he had done and the impact that it had on the local community. 

“It was a great feeling to represent COD and speak about my project and its impact in front of 150 students from over 10 states of the U.S.,” Azizov said.

Azizov continued to put efforts into promoting his project and involved as many students as he could. His goal was to provide more than 500 people with clothes and other essential items, and he was determined to make a difference. After months of hard work, he finally managed to collect items and help a myriad people by combatting homelessness. 

“Even if what I did is not something huge, I believe great actions start with small ones,” Azizov said. “Even if one person would be helped by my project, I would be happy.”

Azizov’s project has not only helped the homeless people in his community, but it has also brought the community together. People from all walks of life have come together to support his project, and it has become a symbol of hope and compassion.

For Azizov, giving back was not just about making donations. It was about making a difference in the lives of those who were less fortunate than him. His selfless actions serve as an inspiration to us all and remind us that we can all do our part to help those in need. Whether it’s by donating our time, money, or resources, every little bit helps. And with a little effort and determination, we can all make a difference in our communities. 

For people who are interested in donating to DuPage pads and helping the community and people in need, follow the link to find more information. (https://dupagepads.org/solutions/needed-items/)