Coats can make a difference

A donation of warm coats is just a beginning.

"It warms my heart to see people step forward like this to help out," said Kim Riggs, homeless advocate for Carson City School District.

There were more than 50 coats purchased at J.C. Penney Friday afternoon.

By Friday night, Pam Houhgton, of Borderwich-Bray Elementary School, was packing off a coat for one of the students in her school.

"I thought it was really cool, I hadn't unpacked them yet," said Riggs.

Houghton approached Riggs after a basketball game at the Community Center.

Riggs said that almost every school in the district could use 15 to 20 jackets this year.

Additional coats, hats and gloves for both boys and girls were bought using money from private donations.

"It's surprising to me how little effort it takes to get people motivated to donate because kids are in need," she said. "I'm just grateful for those who are willing to help."

The Soroptimist Club also stepped forward in a big way to help. During the year, the club will work on a yearlong effort to help the homeless, said Sally Zola, spokeswoman.

During the winter months, collection points have been set up to help "snuff out sniffles."

The group is looking for hats, gloves, coats, winter boots, tennis shoes, and warm socks, she said.

"We're also looking for things like tissues, hot cocoa, tea, honey sticks, instant oatmeal, and chicken soup," Zola said.

Drop off points include:

-- Not Just Nails, 363 Fairview Drive, 841-4441;

-- Kennedy's Books, 1221 S. Carson St., 882-9253;

-- Atkin's House of Carpet, 4600 N. Carson St., 882-6400;

-- State Farm Insurance, 321 W. Winnie Lane, 882-4875;

-- U.S. Bank, 1001 N. Stewart St., 687-8013;

-- Crowell, Susich, Owen & Takes Ltd., 882-1311;

-- Carson City School District, 1402 W. King St., 885-6310.

"We wanted people to know what we're doing so that they can participate in the drive," Zola said.