“A huge thank you to Susie's Coats for Kids, not only for providing the warm items our scholars need to safely enjoy the winter season, but also for making it such a fun and positive shopping experience for our scholars,” said Nicolette Starks, third – fifth grade dean and staff event organizer. “One of our little kindergarten girls walked in, received her ‘shopping bag’ and immediately squealed ‘Oooh I love shopping!’ It was the cutest thing.”
Susie's Coats, a non-profit organization, has resourced and run the coat shopping event at Winterfield in the past but with Covid, was unable to do so last year. There has also been an increased need in the community, so the event was a little later this year to get enough coat inventory for the giveaway. Dean Starks and the founder of Susie's Coats, Susie Perry, also work together as board members for a local non-profit organization.
“To date, Susie’s Coats for Kids has collected and distributed more than 25,000 warm apparel items thanks to the generosity of family, friends, and the community of Northwest Ohio,” said Perry. “I consider it an honor to provide free, warm apparel to children. We are based in Woodville, Ohio and have been doing this work with families for 15 years.”
Students’ parents just needed to complete a short form with their children’s names and sizes which ranged from 2T to 14-16 for both boys and girls. Two children per family were able to receive a new coat.
What a wonderful partnership between two organizations that serve children in the Toledo community.
Visit Winterfield Venture Academy's blog to read more stories like this.