11/08/2024
Will you give the "gift of warmth" to just one child this winter?
I have witnessed kids wearing coats in very poor condition, with rips in the sleeves, a broken zipper holding the coat together with a pin, or too small they couldn't even zip it up. It feels SO GOOD when these children get to pick out their brand-new coat that feels "warm and snuggly" and happens to be in their favorite color. The kids LOVE picking out a beautifully knitted hat made by four very caring women, that goes perfectly with their coat. When they leave the room, they are smiling ear to ear, as we watch them skipping down the hallway to go back to their classroom. The teachers tell us the kids walk in still wearing their new winter gear and twirl around showing their classmates their new things. One little girl told us it was her "best day ever." Warms your heart, doesn't it?
A generous donation from you will help us give our community kids new winter gear so they can stay warm and dry walking to school, waiting for their school bus and playing outside at recess. We would really appreciate you partnering with Koats 4 Kids to make sure our low-income kids have these basic things this year.
Our school staff members really appreciate our donors that enable this to happen. Listed below are a few of their comments.:
School is hard for many students for a variety of reasons. Not having proper winter gear can make the walk to school nearly impossible during those harsh winter months for our high schoolers so some elect to stay home which creates a snowball (no pun intended) effect for missing work, being behind in credits and possibly even graduating on time. Koats 4 Kids has been a true blessing for our students and families! Providing a winter coat, gloves, hat, etc. for a student allows families to focus their limited funds on other necessities and provide our students with winter apparel so they are properly dressed. Thank you for making Koats for Kids happen each year and ensuring that many of our students are protected from our Iowa winters! Waterloo West High is grateful and thankful for the generous spirit of your donors and empathetic heart they have for our youth. Thank you! Marsha Watters, West High School
Thank you for your generous donation to help keep all kids warm! You helped support over 24 children in our building alone. Your donation allows children to go out at recess and enjoy fun with their friends during the cold months. I'm honestly not sure how we would meet this need without the help from Koats 4 Kids! Thank you! Kelly Moeller, Counselor, Orchard Elementary, Cedar Falls
We were approached by Koats 4 Kids to see if we had families in need of outdoor winter clothing. I gave her information on what we might need. She was able to get coats, snow pants, boots, hats and gloves for each of these families through generous donations from the community. The look on the students' faces and their comments when I gave them their items was priceless. Hearing them say with a big smile on their face "these are for me?" and "these are so pretty!' warmed my heart. We at St. Patrick School are so thankful for those donors who share with those in need. We are truly grateful for you and the donors! Jackie Patterson, St. Patrick Catholic School
Thank you to the people who donate to Koats 4 Kids. Our students appreciate getting warm snow pants, boots, gloves, and hats. I had a student tell me he didn't want anything. I asked him if he had winter stuff at home, and he said no. I asked why he didn't want anything. He said because he does not have money for it. I explained the program and then once I reassured him, he was very happy and enjoyed getting to pick out the items. I had another student ask me if it cost money to get the items. I said for students no but someone donates money and people buy them and give them to us for free. He said “you mean people give money for us to have snow pants and boots!?” He was surprised but very happy about this. Once we were done picking out items, he told me thank you. I have had several students tell me thank you and to tell the organization thank you. So thank you! I also have some parents who write on the note that I send home, no but thank you for this opportunity. I think a lot of our families realize how important this help is. Some who say yes will also write thank you on the note. Some students do not get to pick out items at the store regardless of what the item is, so when they get to ‘go shopping’ during our winter distribution days they get very excited and it also teaches them how to pick out items and I teach them how to read their shoe size. I have several students ask me “can I wear this out to recess today?” I say yes. This shows they are excited to wear it. We require students to have snow pants, coats, and boots to be able to play outside in the snow. Otherwise, they have to be on a little cement area. So this gives our students the opportunity for everyone to stay warm and to play in the snow. The students who cannot afford the items are no longer left out because they cannot afford the items, they can be included in all the snow fun. My office (I am a School Counselor) is by where students walk to go out to the playground. Sometimes I will have students stop in and say look at my boots or look at the snow pants, etc. They are very happy to show me they have them on and they get to go play. I also had a student stop in the other day and say thank you for the snow pants, boots, hat, and gloves. They are a quieter student and they took time to list everything they received. Yesterday getting ready for dismissal, I had a girl stop me and say, “Look, I still have my hat” and was describing her hat color, style, etc. to me. She was very excited about it. She got the hat when we were getting her some other winter items.
Amanda McNamara, Counselor, St. Edwards
At Southdale Elementary in Cedar Falls we have seen an increase in the number of students who are unable to afford winter gear every single year since I have been there, which is nine years now. There has been an even larger increase in that number since the COVID-19 pandemic. We would not be able to provide all of our students who need winter clothing the items we need on our own. Koats 4 Kids is such a wonderful resource for us that, quite frankly, we rely on each year. We can say that ALL students in our building can stay warm, stay dry, and play with their friends in the snow because of Koats 4 Kids. Our students love to be able to pick out the items they like, and that is always a fun experience for me to watch as well! Thank you so much Koats 4 Kids and everyone who donates to this amazing cause.
Emily Thilges, School Counselor, Southdale Elementary, Cedar Falls
I have come to count on getting a supply of warm coats for my most needy students. It is such a huge help to our families to have this taken off their plate. Some of my families just do not have the funds to purchase winter gear items for their children and this has always been such an amazing way for the school to help. In my building students must have a coat, snow pants, and boots in order to go outside for recess in the winter months. Getting fresh air and time for movement is important for learning and socialization. The support of this program has helped a lot of my students over the years be able to play with their peers at recess and stay warm in the cold Iowa months. Thank you so much for your support of our young people. Jeni Barry, Counselor, Cedar Heights Elementary School, Cedar Falls.
We are all blessed to live in such a caring community. Will you please donate so we can help our kids that need this winter gear.
Thank you so much for your consideration. It feels really good to "pass kindness on" especially during this upcoming holiday season.
