AKRON — You see London. You see France. Tippecanoe Valley seeks underpants. Tippy Valley middle school is gathering underwear for its school corporation as well as the relief efforts in Houston. Students at Valley will compete against each other by their grade level. The grade with the most donations will earn an ice cream party from Principal Scott Backus. The competition will run from Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Friday, Sept. 8.

While many send money, clothes, cleaning supplies and water, the Vikings found a mutual need between Houston and the students in Akron. According to Valley’s student counselor Susanne Siebrase prior to announcing the drive, Valley had discussed its need for underwear saying, “In our school, we have kids that need underwear, and we are a middle school. So sometimes I have to go out and buy underwear, and it’s like we need underwear here. The nurse and I had just been talking about that the day before.”

Tippecanoe Valley’s first donations were gathered at the end of the first day, totaling 102 donations.

The day after discovering the need at Valley,  Seibras became aware of Houston’s need for underwear when published author Brene Brown — who is located in Houston — posted a social media request for the underwear. “They can get used clothing. There’s plenty of used clothes, but nobody gives used underwear. People…have issues, and they need underwear,” stated Siebras.

It is a need that is often overlooked when donating items, according to Siebrase. She pointed out that it is a need not even most adults would think about saying, “I don’t think anyone thought underwear. Like they need underwear? It’s not even something I…would think of, but it is a basic human dignity sort of a thing.”

It is the administration’s hope that basic human need of underwear will teach the Vikings about “empathy and putting yourself in someone else’s shoes.” Siebrase believes that the need for undergarments is “letting them get into the shoes of what it must be like living in a convention center and think… ‘Yeah, underwear would be really awesome.’”

Valley Middle School’s opening collection totaled around 102 donations, but with the holiday weekend over, Siebrase believes the competition will pick up after the long weekend. Donations can be dropped off at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School’s front office or sent with a students. Collections will be sent to Undies for Everyone in Houston as well as some will be put aside for the school.