Principal's death inspires East Prairie community to expand on clothing charity

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- The death of a junior high school principal has inspired a community to support the school's annual charity drive like never before.

The junior high has had an annual clothing/toy drive around Christmastime for about 10 years.

"We still have people bringing stuff in," said Margaret Ann Mhoon, a special-education teacher at the East Prairie Junior High School who sponsored the schoolwide effort. "We are exploring whether or not we need to have a room or a part of a room year-round set up for people within our district that are needing coats or warm clothes."

This year's drive ended up being different from previous ones when the school got the news in October that its principal, Eva Hinshaw was diagnosed with cancer.

"We started out choosing to have this drive in honor of her because she was so sick. She has championed many fundraisers and charitable projects like Relay for Life and St. Jude and other worthy projects through the years."

The school soon received worse news.

"It was 15 days after she found out she had cancer she passed away," Mhoon said. "It had a dramatic impact."

It was then decided to rename the clothing and toy drive "Heart of Our Hero, Mrs. Eva's Clothing Drive."

"Mrs. Eva was the embodiment of a crusader that championed many needs of the immediate and larger community," Mhoon said.

Mhoon said they are considering keeping that name for future drives.

The drive, held in November and December, brought in nearly 10,000 items.

"It's a pretty big deal with that many items," Mhoon said. "Last year it was around 4,000."

This year the students exceeded that with more than 6,000 items. The community brought in 4,000 items.

"The drive took on a life of its own," Mhoon said. "We started collecting just clothing and toys. People would ask if we would like to have other items and we never said no."

People donated baby items for the crisis pregnancy center, blankets for the homeless, curtains, towels and extra fabric, which was made into quilts for the needy.

"Newspapers, rags and aluminum cans were collected for the animal shelter," Mhoon said. "Our promise was to find the right home for each welcomed gift."

She said many families hurt because of the failing economy, "confidentially reached out for help. 'Charity with dignity' has always been our guide and we were glad to be there."

The students distributed nearly all of the items by Christmas and only items collected for the Rev. Mary Null International Ministry for the Homeless and Destitute remain. Those items will go to people in the Appalachians.

Other organizations that benefited from this year's drive include the East Prairie Nutrition Center, East Prairie Nursing Home, Susanna Wesley Family Learning Center, Fleater Smith-Williams Prison/Foster Care Ministry, Shining Light Baptist Ministry, Southeast Missouri Humane Society, Community Sheltered Workshop, Goodwill, Crisis Pregnancy Center, House of Refuge, Teen Challenge Mid-America Drug/Alcohol Rehab Center, Our Brother's Keeper Quilt Ministry of the Homeless, Salvation Army, East Prairie High School Special Education Transition Class and the County Prison/Jail Ministry along with many families who live within the school district.

"There is pride in the Prairie," Mhoon said. "At East Prairie, serving remains who we are and what we do."