From staff reports
Nearly $6,000 is needed to supply about 120 more coats to elementary students in Austin public schools who requested winter clothing.
Many community members and several churches have been donating money to First United Methodist Church's "Share the Winter Warmth" coat drive, church member Rusty Nutting said. Certificates to buy coats already have been given to about 130 needy schoolchildren, she said.
"But there's still a gap that we'd like to fill if we possibly can," she said.
The church expanded its second annual coat drive this year to all four public elementary schools. The mission team originally planned to provide 20 coats for each of the schools but ended up with nearly 250 requests.
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Donations go toward providing $50 certificates to needy local children to use to buy winter coats at Kmart in Austin. The store is discounting the price of winter coats by 30 percent for the certificates, allowing for families to possibly have extra money to buy hats, mittens or boots.
Monetary donations may be mailed to First United Methodist, 204 First Ave. N.W., Austin, MN 55912, with "Share the Winter Warmth" written on the check's memo line. For more information, call the church at 433-8839.
