Coats for Kids event delivers on warmth
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on December 5, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Dauntoine Marshburn, 5, tests out his new coat with help from Rebecca Carden from the Unversity of Mount Olive collegiate FFA at Brogden Primary School on Thursday morning.
Chrishonna Jones, 5, did not need any help putting on the gloves she picked out.
"I can do it," she said with a big, wide grin. "Ta-da."
And when she sat on Santa's lap her grin only widened as she promised him she would be seeing him Christmas Eve.
She smiled as she walked out of the old cafeteria at Brogden Primary, looking down at her new coat.
"I got me a new coat," she said, happy in her new coat, toboggan and gloves that the University of Mount Olive's Collegiate Future Farmers of America gave her Thursday morning in the annual Coats for Kids giveaway.
The FFA has worked since August to raise money to purchase new coats, hats and gloves, at discount prices from Operation Warm, to donate to children from low-income families that may not have a coat to keep them warm this winter.
This year, they gave more than 300 coats away to students at Carver Elementary and Brogden Primary. Compared to last year, their effort doubled.
Dr. Sandy Maddox, director of the Agribusiness Department at UMO, said the drive doubled because the need did.
"The need was so much bigger this year," Ms. Maddox said.
Although the giveaway is in its ninth year, this is the first year coats were distributed at Brogden.
Yolanda Wynn, principal at Brogden Primary, said she was glad the giveaway expanded to her school.
"It means a great deal to the school and the students. A majority of our students are from low socioeconomic backgrounds and without this donation many would go without coats this winter. We are so grateful to UMO and the counselors for organizing this. It means a lot. We have had a tremendous outpouring of love from various groups in this community," Ms. Wynn said.
And that involvement in the community is top-priority to first-year UMO student Rebecca Carden.
"It is important to get out in the community and let them know we are here," Ms. Carden said.
UMO Collegiate FFA board member Joshua Wisniewski said the effort is something that involves individuals and businesses that surround the schools.
"We fundraiser and solicit businesses in Mount Olive and the surrounding area for this purpose. Staff and faculty donate as well. It costs $25 to sponsor a child," Wisniewski said.
The UMO Collegiate FFA is still collecting monetary donations for Coats for Kids. Those wishing to donate can call the Agribusiness Center at 919-658-7682 for more information.