Following last week’s cold snap, local nonprofit Marietta in the Middle has launched a coat drive that will run through Feb. 9.
Donors can drop jackets at four locations in the Gem City: First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, and the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Emergency Room.
Courtney Bellmann, outreach director for the group, said the idea for the drive started with last week’s frigid temperatures, and learning that some students at Dunleith Elementary School had shown up to campus without proper outerwear.
“Last week, we had the idea to make sure all the kids at the elementary schools had coats. We reached out to each elementary school, and there was one, Dunleith … (that) said yes. Then we scrambled,” Bellmann said. “We were able to get coats for every kid that didn’t show up with one. I think it was eight or 10 kids.”
Bellmann said most schools already have an emergency coat closet for kids in need, but Marietta in the Middle wants to ensure those supplies are well stocked, and size inclusive.