KOKOMO, Ind. — When the weather outside is frightful, a warm coat for a child is delightful.
Indiana University Kokomo athletics is asking fans and the community to donate winter coats, to be given to Kokomo-area school children, at two upcoming basketball games.
Greg Cooper, athletic director, said he, soccer coach Terry Stewart, and women’s basketball coach Colie Shelwick all have spouses who work for area schools and have mentioned children arriving at school cold.
They’ve shared that every day, there are kids coming to school in 15 to 20 degree weather without a coat on,” said Cooper. “It’s not the fault of the parents; they just can’t afford it. Sometimes it becomes a choice between putting food on the table or buying a coat. We decided we have a platform to do something about it through our athletic program.”
Cougar fans can bring gently used coats, size 6T to adult large, to the men’s basketball game at 3 p.m. Saturday, December 15 vs. Midway University, or the women’s basketball game at 5:30 p.m. Monday, December 17 vs. Goshen College. Games are at Cougar Gym, 507 E. Superior St.
Coats also will be accepted anytime through January 7 in the Cole Fitness Center, in the lower level of the IU Kokomo Library Building.
The coats will be given to the Department of Social and Student Services at Kokomo Schools, to be laundered and distributed to elementary-aged children. Cooper said they focused on that age group because of how quickly they can outgrow a coat.
A coat only lasts a year at that age,” he said. “We thought this was a good group to focus on, because they grow so much in such a short time.”
For more information contact Cooper at gregcoop@iuk.edu.
Indiana University Kokomo serves north central Indiana.