Thirteen students in the Social Work Practice 3 course at Southeast Missouri State University are starting an organization called "Keep Cape Cozy".

Social work professor Gerri Goldman assigned her students to pick a vulnerable population in Cape Girardeau and figure out a way to raise money to help local citizens. She gave the students the option of splitting up into groups, or working as one group. The entire class decided to work together on one project.

"We decided to do one big group to raise the most money possible versus breaking up into smaller groups," Southeast student and class member Katie Belpulsi said. "We'd rather make a bigger impact by all working together."

With such a large group to work with, the class split up into seven committees to cover every aspect of starting the new organization. The committees include public relations, finance, fundraising, supplies and pick-up, presentation, communications and evaluation.

With an anticipated harsh winter ahead, the students wanted to start an organization to help keep Cape Girardeau residents warm. The group plans to collect gloves, scarves and hats by setting out collection boxes in on-campus buildings. They plan to donate the items collected to homeless shelters and to the Women's Safe House.

The group also plans to hold several fundraisers including share nights at Culver's, Bob Evans, Simply Swirled and Buffalo Wild Wings and several Greek organizations have agreed to support Keep Cape Cozy by donating to the cause.

With the money they raise, the members of the group will purchase fabric at Hancock Fabrics, which has decided to grant them a discount on their purchases, to make hand-made blankets for hospice patients, babies in the NICU and patients at Ratliff nursing home.

"We are doing so many fundraisers, but we just want to make as much money as possible, so we're doing as many things as we can to reach our goal," Belpulsi said.

With a goal of $1,000, the members of the organization are feeling optimistic about reaching it.

"I'm proud of what our class has achieved so far, and I think we will go above and beyond our goals," Southeast student and group member Taylor Schmidt said.

With high hopes and a solid foundation, the group members hope to make a lasting impact and create an organization that will continue to make a difference in the Cape Girardeau area for years to come.