ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) -- On Thursday morning, over 100 coats were given to kids across five schools in the Elmira City School District. For the 7th year, WENY-TV has partnered with Williams Honda to meet a need in the community and keep kids warm during the winter.
This year, Operation Winter Coat brought 188 coats to students in Elmira. Over the past seven years of the project, however, hundreds of coats have been provided to help kids who may not have access to a coat get the key garment they need.
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"It's a huge relief, honestly," said Jessica McMaster, the assistant principal at Coburn Elementary. "A lot of our teachers used to try to supply things, so having the community support has really been amazing because it takes that concern off of their plates and our plates and lets us focus on the kids and know that we can meet their needs."
Williams Honda in Big Flats began collecting new coats in the middle of November. As of November 19, they had collected nearly two cars full of coats.
On Thursday morning, representatives from WENY-TV and Williams Honda traveled throughout Elmira to hand them out at five different schools in the district. Those schools include Broadway Elementary, Coburn Elementary, Riverside School, Beecher School, and Ernie Davis Academy.
"It's just a nice feeling that we are all here together making a change not just in one person's life but in the whole community," said Frank Khan, the general manager of Williams Honda. "So that's the biggest part. For me, it's not just one family, it's all types of family, so that's a big thing for me."
Several kids even had the opportunity to pick out their own coats today and, in some cases, those students got to grab an extra coat for their younger siblings who may not go to their school.
"They don't always step up and say 'I need a coat'," said Valerie Maloney, the assistant principal at Riverside Elementary. "So when kids are getting on the buses and it's 30 or below and they don't even have a coat on, we say, 'Hey, do you need a coat?' And if they say yes, we have it ready and available. And because of the amount of coats, the kids are actually able to pick one too."
While a coat can seem like a small thing to some people, it can make a world of difference for many others. Two members of Broadway Elementary's Student Council can attest to this as they talked about why Operation Winter Coat is such a big deal.
"[I'm] very proud because I know this school," said Payton, a member of Broadway's student council and a sixth-grade student. "I know some kids don't have as much supplies and I think with more coats, kids can like know that 'when I come to school today I'm going to have something to go outside with.'"
Dakota, another member of the student council and a fellow sixth-grader agreed saying, "So, honestly, it makes me feel grateful for the things that we do have and the things that we can give to other people."
Several kids from Riverside Elementary even gathered around a fellow student who held up a sign reading 'Thank You Williams Honda' as they shouted their collective thanks to those who are a part of Operation Winter Coat.
While this year's coat total came out to 188, Khan says the hope is that next year will be even better with bigger numbers.
WENY-TV is proud to collaborate with Williams Honda for a seventh year on this important project that helps kids stay warm.