Nonprofit provides winter coats for thousands of students

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of children across central Ohio received free winter coats on Thursday, just in time for frigid weather.

The drive was part of local nonprofit Bonzy Charities’ sixth annual Coat Day Columbus.

Eight schools participated, including elementary schools in Reynoldsburg and South Western City Schools. Every student was allowed to pick out a brand-new winter jacket.

“I was looking at the colors and I thought the blue one looked the best,” fifth-grade French Run student Aleen Hasan said.

Reynoldsburg City Schools Whole Child Support Director Ashley Pittman said the students had a choice and a voice while picking out their coats.

“They come in super excited, they're matching with their friends, they're able to kind of coordinate,” Pittman said.

Doug Godard, president and founder of Bonzy, said a coat can be the difference between a child coming to school or staying home on a cold day.

“This is one way of helping out the kids so they can be present at school,” Godard said while visiting Prairie North Elementary. “Students at this school are on free and reduced-price lunch programs and that’s the type of school that we focus on.”

Pittman said every child at French Run in Reynoldsburg walked away from school Thursday with a warm jacket. It’s one less thing for parents to worry about.

“Whether you really, really need the coat or it's just an extra one to have to play outside or grow into, that's fine. We don't want to draw attention to one single person,” Pittman said.

A brand-new coat for a child in need costs $25. You can donate and learn more about Coat Day by visiting the Bonzy website by clicking here.