Topeka Public Schools hosts annual winter coat giveaway

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Topeka Public Schools (TPS) hosted its annual winter coat giveaway at Quinton Heights Education Center.

With the support of the Warm Little Ones Coat Fund, families were able to take home coats, hats, gloves, books and shelf-stable food items. The event also offered cookbooks, home weatherization kits and other community resources.

"This sort of event is open to anyone, so there's no income cap, there's no label put on it, it's just what people need," Nichole Fairley said, the coordinator for TPS Parents as Teachers. "And so, if that's a need that your family has, then please feel free to use it."

Jim Brewer founded the Warm Little Ones Coat Fund in October of 1990, hoping to provide new coats to children in need.

"I walked in [the Salvation Army] on an October day, and I saw babies wrapped in towels, kids with no coats," Brewer said. "Parents sometimes gave them their coats, and then they had none."

Since starting the fund has expanded across Kansas, and into other states.

"It got to be four counties in Kansas, two branches, one in Texas and one in Oklahoma," Brewer said. "Because of what they saw here, they wanted to start it in their communities."

Almost 30 years after starting the fund, Brewer is excited to see how it still helps the community.

"I can't tell you how much it means to be able to still see kids get a coat in the bitterest weather."

Fairley encourages families in the district to reach out when they're in need.

"Each school in our district has community pantry items," Fairley said. "If that's something you need, please feel free to talk to your school counselor or social worker, anyone really in your school, to get access to those items."

To make a donation or request items, visit Topeka Public Schools' website.

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