Kemper County coat drive

Since officially starting this summer, the Plant Ratcliffe chapter of Community Connection has already undertaken several projects to introduce themselves to their Kemper neighbors.

With temperatures dropping into the low 20s this week and winter on the horizon, the chapter recently collected and donated nearly 300 coats to the Kemper County School District.

“We heard from Superintendent Jackie Pollock about children in the district needing coats this winter,” Tripp Ward, chapter president, said. “This was a great project for us to take on that will have an immediate impact in the community.”

About 75 gently worn jackets were collected on-site and the chapter bought 100 new jackets. G&K Services, which provides fire retardant clothing to employees, donated another 100 coats.

“When they found out about the coat drive, the team at G&K Services stepped in and asked how they could help,” Ward said. “It’s great that our vendors at the plant want to make a positive impact in Kemper County too.”

When the coats were delivered to the Kemper County School District Office, Pollock said this was the first time a private business had organized a coat drive for students in the county.

“This is the first time that we’ve had this type of partnership in Kemper County and we’re excited about it,” Pollock said. “This means a lot to us and we’re thrilled about the support we’re receiving from Community Connection.”

The coats will be distributed to students at West Kemper Elementary, East Kemper Elementary and Kemper County High School in the coming days.