Holy Cross School collecting coats for needy through Dec. 1

Date: 11/18/2008

By Debbie Gardner

PRIME Editor



SPRINGFIELD Chilly November mornings mean it's time to start bundling up the kids and yourself as you head out the door to school and work.

But what if you didn't have a warm coat for your little one? For yourself?

The second and eighth grade classes at Holy Cross School are working hard to ensure that everyone who needs a winter coat this year has one.

In conjunction with the Salvation Army, these two classes will be collecting used children's and adult coats and jackets at the school through Dec. 1.

"It's been a tough year. There are a lot of families out there who need help," Alison Podworski, account executive for Market Mentors, publicists for the Salvation Army, told Reminder Publications.

According to second grade teacher Kathleen Brutnell, this is the third year the two grades at Holy Cross have worked together to collect coats at the school. She, fellow second grade teacher Terry Rollins, eighth grade teachers Carol Brown and John Buldrini and PTO co-president Ingrid Caine are collaborating on the project.

"Part of the project relates back to our school pledge about caring and helping others in our school and community," Brutnell said. "We like to relate [that pledge] by actions."

Last year the two grades collected, counted, sorted and donated 300 coats.

This year, Brutnell said coats began arriving at the school well in advance of the drive's Nov. 12 kickoff.

"I send a reminder home in May to tell parents to hold on to those outgrown coats," Brutnell said. "And I sent another reminder home about a week ago."

According to Brutnell, the students love the project.

"They are already very excited about delivering the coats to the [collection box in] the gym," she said of the school's second graders. "They are part of it from the get-go, so they really get a feeling of being part of [the drive]."

According to the school's administrative assistant Robin Massey, those who wish to donate coats to the drive can bring their items to the school office, accessible through the doors on either Eddywood or Wheeler streets, between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Podworski said the number of coats collected during the Salvation Army's annual Coats for Kids drive earlier this fall was fewer than in past years.

She said she's hoping the school beats last year's number of donated coats.

Brutnell said the coat drive is one of the community outreach programs that the school initiates throughout the year.