ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The gymnasium of Washington Elementary School turned into a huge winter coat closet as almost 400 students had the opportunity to pick a new coat in the color and size of their choosing — at no cost.
After morning announcements Wednesday, every student in the building was led, class by class, to the gym where coats were stacked on folding tables.
Starting with special needs students and then moving up through the grades, students were able to choose from a variety of styles and colors of coats.
Assisted by volunteers, once the students found one that fit and that they liked, they wrote their name on the tag in colorful Sharpie and were walked back to class.
The drive was held by Operation Warm, a national nonprofit organization that manufactures and donates new coats to children who need them.
The school’s principal, Jeff Grillo, said warm winter gear is particularly important since Washington Elementary students walk to school. The building is at 837 N. Ninth St., off Sumner Avenue.
“They're not in that proximity where they're bused to school, so we’re giving them the opportunity to have a nice warm coat walking to school and home from school,” he said. “Plus they also like to play outside after school.
"Especially with colder temperatures right around the corner, just having them with brand new coats will make them feel really awesome.”
“I love how happy they are, how excited they are, how they get to choose, and it’s theirs and they love it.”Tammy Kirschman, volunteer
Jeffery Espinola, Washington Elementary’s community school coordinator, said he received a call from Operation Warm about a month ago looking to help schools in the Allentown area. He was immediately excited about the idea.
“We have some students who come in just in T-shirts or long sleeves, and it’s cold out,” he said. “This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time. We usually get smaller donations in regard to coats, but this year we’re able to supply every kid a coat. So this is going to have a large impact on our community.”
A volunteer effort
After about three weeks of planning, the event came together. Two companies, PPL and Accenture, partnered with Operation Warm to purchase the coats and organize volunteers.
In total, over 20 volunteers from the two partnering organizations helped students get fitted and zip up their new coats.
One volunteer from PPL, Tammy Kirschman, was particularly moved by the work.
“I didn’t have a lot growing up,” she said. “When I was in fourth grade, my fourth-grade teacher bought my winter coat because I didn’t have one. So I actually could get a little emotional seeing some of these kids and seeing how excited they are to have a winter coat.”
After helping a few students pick out a coat, Kirschman said she loved watching the little girls she spoke with get excited about the pink and purple coats.
“They were just really excited that they could choose…” she said. “I love how happy they are, how excited they are, how they get to choose, and it’s theirs and they love it.”
Many students high-fived or hugged each other and volunteers after receiving their coats. Some students chose coats that matched their friends’.
A different experience
Espinola said the ability for students to hand-select the coat they liked made it different than most coat drives.
“They get to select the color, they have the experience of walking around, kind of shopping for their own coat. It gives them that autonomy to pick their own coat,” he said. “I think it’s important. I think if you just hand them a coat and say ‘Here, here’s your coat,’ it doesn’t have the same feel.”
"I think if you just hand them a coat and say ‘Here, here’s your coat,’ it doesn’t have the same feel.”Jeffrey Espinola, Washington Elementary's community school coordinator
Kirschman said a coat being new can also be important to the child wearing it.
She said many kids don’t have the opportunity to have something new, especially something as pricey as a winter coat, and that not having a hand-me-down can create a sense of autonomy and ownership.
Any students who were not able to find a coat in their size were given a “promise bracelet” by Operation Warm. This silicone bracelet was given out as a placeholder while the organization ships a coat in the correct size and color to the school so that no student is left behind.
Espinola said around 380 coats were distributed.
Any coats left over will be kept by Washington Elementary and given to new students in need or students who were absent and missed the event.
