WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - In just 24 hours after our story aired, Oquirrh Elementary School has gotten almost 70 winter coats for the students in need. Principal Nancy Ward says the community support has been amazing, and hopes they can get as many as 300 coats to every student who currently has to brave the cold without one can get what they need and be warm this season.
When ABC 4 visited Oquirrh Elementary School, it was like any other day with students eating lunch in the cafeteria, but only some of them ended up playing outside. For others it was too cold and they don't have a warm coat, and what they do have just doesn't keep them warm enough.
Principal Nancy Ward says she's noticed more of her students coming to school in sweatshirts, thin windbreakers, and jackets that don't fit, “If we don't provide those very basic needs of shelter, warmth, and care, it's hard for students to learn.”
Ward says she called ABC 4 after seeing our story on Majestic Elementary School, another Jordan District school in need. She says, “They have the shoes that they need and she's so excited about that and I thought it would be nice if resources were available to be able to provide that kind of gift to these students who are also in need. So you called channel 4? Yeah Channel 4 has done a great job of serving the community.”
In it's first year as a Title 1 school, only five students have gotten a coat through "Operation School Bell." There are over 40 students and counting still on that waiting list.
Roughly a third of the 750 K-6 students at Oquirrh Elementary need a winter coat. School officials hope 200 to 300 coats will be donated so every student who needs one will get one and be warm this season.
Donations can be brought directly to
Oquirrh Elementary School.
