With winter approaching, many begin digging coats out from the backs of their closets, but not everyone has that luxury.
Prince Edward Elementary is asking people to donate new coats of all sizes for students that don’t have one to wear when the temperature begins to drop.
“Prince Edward has wonderful people, but we don’t have a lot of industry here and there is a lot of poverty, 73 percent are on free or reduced lunch, said Vonnie Colvin, Program Coordinator and Professor of Physical Education. “Again, its just folks that just don’t make a lot of money and I always think we have to keep kids warm, we have to keep them dry.”
Colvin is hopeful that the same 73 percent eligible for free or reduced lunches are not the same percent in need of coats, but the odds of that are slim.
According to Colvin, Longwood’s Health and PE Majors have been involved with the elementary school for years, but out of the 12 years she has been at Longwood, she has never known the elementary school to put up a sign asking for coats.
Colvin did mention one time when helping students learn how to tie shoes, many of them were without socks in mid November.
Jessica Parker, senior at Longwood University, brought the idea of a coat drive involving all Longwood students, to fruition.
“We go to Prince Edward [Elementary] every Tuesday to work with the adaptive kids and we just saw a sign that caught my eye,” said Parker.
“We bring the kids outside on the blacktop and work with them and it gets chilly sometimes in the morning,” said Parker. “There was one day where the kids didn’t have jackets and we couldn’t take them outside because we were afraid it would be too chilly for the kids.”
The school is not asking for name brand coats. According to Colvin, new coats from Wal-Mart are what they are looking for, they just want something that will keep the kids warm.
Colvin realizes that many clubs already have their service projects set, but they hope that students will still be inclined to give, emphasizing that if the elementary school receives more coats than they need this year, the school nurse said they can store them for future needs.
“If every club team, sorority, fraternity came up with three to five coats, new, that would fit children ages four up to 11, order a variety of sizes, girls and boys, we could go out there in early November and truly make a difference,” Colvin said with excitement.
According to Colvin, these service projects are all run out by “PHETE First”, Physical and Health Education, Teacher Education, they have been working with the elementary school since 2013.
“We go out once every few months and bring little kids underwear and sweatpants so that when they have accidents, they have dry clothes,” said Colvin.
“In my time at Prince Edward Elementary, I saw something I’ve never seen before,” said Colvin. “When the kids get off the bus, the older brothers and sisters make sure the little ones get to the right spot… it’s just a very caring community.”
“There are over 900 students at that school and not all would need a coat, but some will,” said Colvin. “We talk about citizen leaders and I think we have a real commitment to our community, this is where you spend eight, nine months a year.”
They raised about $900 getting clothes for them last year, according to Parker, and they intend on using left over funds from that to buy coats this year.
Encouraging outdoor activity is one thing these student leaders want to push in the local elementary school, but with cold weather approaching, this may be difficult.
Bring coats to 104 K in Willett or see Administrative Asst. Nancy Scruggs, who can let you in the room where coats are being set aside.
If you donate, they encourage you to sign your name or organization on the back of the door. Deadline is noon on Monday Nov. 9.
