Prospect holiday coat drive helps Chicago children stay warm

Prospect High School and the surrounding community recently collected over 900 winter coats for children in need living on Chicago's West Side.

The school collected the coats alongside Button and Zipper, an organization founded by District 214 graduate Ira Coleman to help at-risk youth and the homeless in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The community also donated hats, gloves, mittens and winter boots.

Each winter jacket was size-matched for a specific child in need. Prospect Dean of Students Mark Taylor, who spearheads the drive each year, said he was overwhelmed by the incredible generosity of Mount Prospect and Arlington Heights residents - this year's 900 coats broke Prospect's previous high mark for the holiday drive.

The week before Christmas, Prospect students and staff traveled to Chicago's West Side and personally delivered the items to Leland Elementary, Nash Elementary, Nixon Elementary, Walsh Elementary, Austin High School and the Austin Community Center.

In addition to the coat drive, Prospect's Service Club recently collected over 7,000 can food items for the Mount Prospect Food Pantry and over $1,300 in gift cards for Northwest Compass, which supports area families in need.

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