LINCOLN SQUARE — Teens and jeans have been inseparable since the 1950s, so it's no surprise that the clothing item most requested by homeless youths is a pair of denim pants.
The retailer Aeropostale, in partnership with DoSomething.Org, has been collecting gently used jeans — to the tune of a million pairs a year — through its annual Teens for Jeans drive, and then distributing the donations to homeless youths.
This year, students at Amundsen High School have joined the effort, among the thousands of schools nationwide to do so.
Seniors Amina Hadzic and Baberich Abendan, president and secretary, respectively, of the school's National Honor Society chapter, are spearheading the clothing drive.
"It really opened my eyes that we have students around us who are maybe homeless," said Hadzic, 17.
Patty Wetli talks more about the Teens for Jeans drive:
Abendan, who like Hadzic lives in Edgewater and attends school in Lincoln Square, said he was shocked by estimates that a million teens in the U.S. are homeless.
"I don't see too much," said Abendan, also 17. "I feel so naive."
Students, faculty, staff and members of the community are being encouraged to contribute to the drive.
Jeans are the perfect item to donate — versatile enough to be dressed up or down and holding up well when worn multiple times between washes, according to Do Something, which runs social action campaigns for teens.
Whether skinny, flared, low-rise, dark wash, embroidered or artfully ripped, Hadzic and Abendan will take whatever they can get.
As evidenced by a pair of recent donations, "mom jeans" are even being accepted.
"Different people fit different jeans," Hadzic said diplomatically.
Participating in service projects is one of the requirements of membership in NHS, with seniors expected to have five projects to their credit and juniors three.
Members volunteer at charity walks, tutor elementary students and have manned the phones during PBS pledge week at WTTW's studio.
"It helps the community and we feel good about ourselves," Hadzic said.
Teens for Jeans isn't entirely altruistic, though.
Schools can win various prizes including a concert performance from British pop band The Vamps and $5,000.
The funds could support next year's NHS club or go toward extracurriculars in general at the school, many of which are paid for out of teachers' pockets, Hadzic and Abendan said.
To increase their chances of collecting the most jeans, both students are raiding their own closets for donations.
Abendan admitted to having "quite a few" pairs, some for school and some for "outside."
"It's better to put them to use than collecting dust," he said.
Teens for Jeans runs through Sunday. Anyone interested in donating to Amundsen's effort can bring jeans to the school through Friday, 5110 N. Damen Ave.
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