Waukee Students Collect Outerwear for Winter Warmth Drive

If you have children, then you know how quickly they grow out of clothing. Seems if a coat fits one season, it will most certainly not fit the next.

That’s what gave Waukee dad Tim Gaynor a brilliant idea: why not pass on those outgrown coats, hats and mittens to someone who could use them? From that thought, the Winter Warmth Drive was born.

Now in its fifth year, the drive provides much-needed outerwear to families and children, in particular, to help protect them against cold wintry weather.

From Oct. 29 through Nov. 9, students from all 10 Waukee school buildings as well as Valley High School and Valley Southwoods in West Des Moines, will begin collecting gently used winter clothing like coats, jackets, hats, mittens, scarves and even blankets that will be distributed to people in need.

"I love how we’re turning this drive into something where it’s kids helping kids," said Gaynor. "A majority of us in the western suburbs are very fortunate to have our needs met. This is one way those kids can take what they have and give to others who may not."

Gaynor said there are three agencies where items will be distributed once they have been collected: Hawthorn Hill, YESS, and Freedom for Youth. Another area where Gaynor said there's a great need is in several elementary schools in Des Moines.

"We also are collecting items for, and this is what really drives me to keep this drive going each year, other schools," he said. Edmunds, Jackson, Moulton, Monroe, King, Findley and Garton Elementary Schools will also be recipients of the collected items. Phenix Elementary in West Des Moines will also recieve items from the drive.

Anyone wanting to donate gently used or even new items is encouraged to bring them to their child’s school and deposit them in one of the many collection boxes.