After dropping off winter items to an OKC public school collected by the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education's board of directors last week, I was asked by my own child's school to take their lost & found items from last semester to Goodwill. But I had a better idea and asked if I could donate those items to that OKCPS school. After washing and organizing those items, I counted 15 sweatshirts, 17 jackets, 2 coats, 9 winter hats, 6 gloves, and the list goes on. Most of these items were gently used, name brand items and each went to good homes or the clothes closet of that school yesterday! This got me thinking. Rather than simply donating unclaimed items from schools to places like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, why don't we first reach out to our Title 1 schools? We can easily stock their clothes closets with the nice clothes left behind at other schools. Can you imagine every school having a stocked clothes closet for their students in need?! Moral behind this share: Not only can you help in drives like Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation's Coat-a-Kid, but you can help by donating that barely used coat or shoes your child grew out of to a school who has a child in need of that exact size. In every community there are students and families who need our help, and helping is easier than you think! When it's time for your child's school to donate the lost and found items, remember this post. If you're near me, reach out or share with your school's PTA/PTO. Bring the items to me and I'll do the rest! #clothescloset #title1 #donate #oklahomacity #oklahoma #publicschools #lostandfound #coatdrive #pta #pto
Being able to Coat-a-Kid to every child in need this year wouldn't be possible without the support of our generous donors. Do you want to make a direct impact to keep a child warm in OKC? Donate here: okckids.com/coat-a-kid
Programs Manager at the Oklahoma Council on Economic Education
7moHere are some of those lost and found items!