In memory of a "charmingly rebellious" Auburn student, children in Lee County will keep warm this winter.
In October the Social Work Club ran a coat drive dedicated to summer 2010 graduate Maegan Moore, 22, who died in a car accident Aug. 18 in Birmingham.
Rebecca Norris, senior in human development and family studies, knew Maegan since high school. She said charmingly rebellious is a term Maegan's older brother coined to describe his sister, who graduated with a degree in social work.
"She was always unfailingly true to herself, and she touched the lives of everyone who came in contact with her," Norris said. "She made a difference in the world before she ever had a degree."
The coat drive ended Tuesday when the Social Work Club and Maegan's mother, Gloria, presented the coats to the Lee County Department of Human Resources. Meagan Dickey, Social Work Club president, said most of the coats will go to foster children who move frequently and are unable to take all their belongings.
"They kind of go from house to house, and it's not really permanent," Dickey said. "A lot of times they take their clothes in a trash bag because they don't have time to grab anything, and they leave stuff behind."
Carolyn Hunter, resources officer for DHR, said coats were taken to The Big House Foundation in Opelika for distribution.
"School teachers call and tell us about children who come in with no coat when the weather changes," Hunter said. "The coats will definitely be used, and we appreciate the drive they are sponsoring in the name of Maegan Moore."
DHR director Jan Burke was among those who accepted the coats.
"The fact that we can have a family join together in celebration of this young lady is an amazing thing," Burke said. "What she stood for and what she stands for will go on in the form of this contribution in the lives of these children."
Friends of Maegan hauled in bags containing 160 coats as Gloria shared photos of her daughter with DHR workers.
"It's a wonderful benefit and timely for the fall," Hunter said.
Maegan's younger brother, Nick Moore, said the purpose behind the drive reflects his sister's giving nature.
"I'd have to say she had the most one-of-a-kind personality and was the happiest person, willing to help anyone," Nick said.
Emily Myers taught Maegan and said she left a lasting impact on the social work program.
"Maegan was a sensitive and caring student with a gift for understanding the needs of others," Myers said. "Each of the faculty who had her in class felt as though she was going to be an excellent social worker due to her ability to establish rapport with clients and due to her caring nature."
Last spring, Maegan interned at Three Springs Residential Center in Tuskegee, where she worked with juveniles charged with criminal offenses.
"In a very short time, she became a welcome addition to the treatment team," said social work professor Angela Burque. "Regardless of the juvenile offenses, Maegan always demonstrated a respect for their worth and dignity and hopefulness in their ability to grow."
Dickey said she believed Maegan's confidence was an asset to her future.
"She wasn't afraid to stand up for things that she believed in," Dickey said. "I feel like she would have done really well in her career as a social worker because of that."
Along with family and friends, Norris wears a purple bracelet in remembrance of Maegan, who she said was notorious for dressing in the color purple.
"I will never be able to wear purple again without thinking about Maegan and the impact she made on me," Norris said.
Norris attended Vestavia Hills High School with Maegan in Vestavia Hills, where her family lives today.
"The coat drive is perfect to have in Maegan's memory because it benefits those in need, just like Maegan did for everyone around her," Parker said. "The world will not be the same without Maegan Moore."
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