Members of the Octorara field hockey team are currently gathering donations of clothing, shoes, accessories, household items and stuffed animals.

Items are being collected on Wednesdays through May 31, weather permitting, at the blue field hockey concession stand, located next to the Octorara Elementary School, 104 Highland Road, Atglen. Items should be placed in plastic garbage bags. In the event of rain, bags should be brought back for donation on the following Wednesday.

"This is our third year collecting items (as a team fundraiser)," said field hockey coach Christina Ruth, who is also a special education teacher at Octorara Junior-Senior High School. "Last year, we collected over 400 bags."

The items will be collected by an organization that repurposes such donations and distributes them to people in need locally and worldwide. For example, clothing was recently donated to residents of Ukraine after the Russian attacks.

The following items are suitable for donating: men's, women's and children's clothing and shoes; accessories - scarves, ties, belts, wallets and handbags; household items - blankets, sheets, towels and tablecloths; and stuffed toys and animals.

The team is also planning a hockey clinic for youths in kindergarten through sixth grade on Sundays, April 23, April 30 and May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Parkesburg POINT youth center, 700 Main St., Parkesburg. A fee will be charged per session.

The clinic will be run by team members, and it is open to those who reside in the Octorara Area School District, as well as surrounding districts, including Solanco, Oxford and Avon Grove. "(Presenting the clinic will be) both junior and senior high players - about 30 to 34 athletes," noted Ruth.

All those interested in learning how to play field hockey are invited, as well as current players interested in honing their skills. "You can be someone who has never played before or an athlete who is more skilled," said Ruth, noting attendees will be grouped by age. "We will teach skills and fundamentals and coordination and there will be lots of fun games."

Ruth emphasized that the clinic is open to girls and boys. "A lot of people have the impression that field hockey is only for girls, but it was founded as a men's sport," she said.

Players are asked to wear sneakers and will need to bring a stick, shinguards, a mouthguard and water. Extra sticks will be available to use and return at the end of each session.

A link to register for the clinic and more information about the clothing drive are available at http://www.facebook.com/octorarafield hockey. For more information, contact Ruth at cruth@octorara.org.