Once again, members of our community opened their hearts (and wallets!) so that City School District of Albany students will be warm this winter.
The City of Albany’s annual month-long Cash for Coats drive collected some $35,000 during October, enough to buy over 700 coats plus 2,000 hats and pairs of gloves that were distributed Monday at several district schools.
A news conference announcing the distribution was held Monday at Delaware Community School, one of the schools that received coats.
"There are many ways we support children, but it seems like this coat drive is the simplest and most fundamental. Every child should have a warm coat, because being clothed and warm are among the most basic human needs,” said Superintendent Joseph Hochreiter.
Also at Tuesday's news conference were City Auditor Dorcey Applyrs, B. Lodge and Co. owners Jack and Mark Yonnally and United Way of the Capital Region CEO Peter Gannon. Longtime sponsors Tom Burke, Dr. Edward Wladis and the Palace Theatre unable to make the news conference.
Applyrs, the Yonallys and Gannon then headed off to classrooms to read the book “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats.
Now in its 17th year, the drive raises money during October that goes toward the purchase new coats and winter gear for students in need. Each year, Lodge's offers a significant discount on any items purchased for Cash for Coats, maximizing the impact of each cash donation.
The lists of schools receiving coats rotates from year to year. In addition to Delaware Community School, students received coats and winter gear at Arbor Hill Elementary School, Eagle Point Elementary School, Sheridan Preparatory Academy, Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), William S. Hackett Middle School and Albany High School.
As additional dollars trickle into the drive, the city will provide coats to other district schools.
