Operation Warm: Organizations bring coats to Liberty-Curtin students
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Students at Liberty-Curtin are pictured while receiving coats thanks to a partnership between Clinton County United Way and Operation Warm.
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Some of the coats available for students to choose between are pictured at Liberty-Curtin Elementary School.
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Students at Liberty-Curtin are pictured while receiving coats thanks to a partnership between Clinton County United Way and Operation Warm.
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Students at Liberty-Curtin are pictured while receiving coats thanks to a partnership between Clinton County United Way and Operation Warm.
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Some of the coats available for students to choose between are pictured at Liberty-Curtin Elementary School.
LAURA TARANTELLA/THE EXPRESS Students at Liberty-Curtin are pictured while receiving coats thanks to a partnership between Clinton County United Way and Operation Warm.
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BLANCHARD -- Students at Liberty-Curtin Elementary School received new coats on Oct. 27 through a partnership between Clinton County United Way and Operation Warm, helping to ensure every student has a coat to wear as colder weather continues to approach.
Operation Warm, a national nonprofit organization partners with business and community organizations to provide winter essentials to children in need. Through the initiative, Clinton County United Way worked to bring the program to Liberty-Curtin, providing students with warm outerwear for the upcoming winter months.
The program began three years ago at Robb Elementary, where the coat distribution was organized more as a community day for local residents. Since then, the initiative has expanded to include students at Renovo and Liberty-Curtin Elementary, with distributions now taking place during the school day to ensure every student receives a coat.
By bringing the program directly into schools, organizers Carleigh Johnson and Katrina Selby say they can reach children who might otherwise miss the opportunity to participate in a community distribution.
For students, the coats also brought excitement and smiles as they were able to find the perfect fit.
"Oh, I'm so happy," said one third grade student after picking out her new coat.
Another student, a first grader, expressed excitement as well saying "I look so adorable."
The student's reactions reflected the personal impact of the program, as well as the commitment to giving back to the community. Johnson and Selby have drawn on partnerships, fundraising and grants to continue making the distributions possible, with the goal of reaching more students in the district.