Students learn lesson of need vs. want with coat drive

This winter, students at Lakewood School in Carpentersville will be warmer due to the creative thinking and generosity of Lakewood School sixth-grade teacher Josh Horton, and his wife, Erin.

After seeing students come in from the bus wearing only a sweatshirt, he talked with his students about “need versus want.”

“I wanted to find out from them if they had a winter coat that they were not wearing, or if they truly had a need for something warm to wear,” Horton said. He asked other teachers which students might need coats, hats, scarves and gloves, and then anonymously asked students what they needed.

In a Facebook coat drive, Erin created “S.N.O.W.- Students Need Outerwear.” Donors were asked to provide new coats, hats, gloves and scarves so that students had something new to wear. Students then had the chance to come to the S.N.O.W. “shop” and pick out outerwear that best suited them. Erin explained the reason they do S.N.O.W.

“We do S.N.O.W. because we saw a need and it was something that we could easily do. A few dollars for a new coat is an easy way to help the kids that our family cares so much about,” Erin said.

On a day after school, students stayed after school to “shop” for a new coat. Cookies and hot chocolate were offered to students as they showed off their new winter garb. Josh and his wife hope to grow this program each year in order to help more and more students. This year, 30 coats, 20 hats and 28 pairs of gloves were donated.

Lakewood student Lupe Ortiz said, “S.N.O.W. is a great program that helps kids get winter clothing. It is a good feeling that is just really awesome!”