To help at-risk children focus on education without the added worry of keeping warm, The Prince William County Chamber of Commerce is looking after students again this year with its annual Winter Warm-UP drive, which ends February 14.
The Winter Warm-UP drive supplies children with a kit: a sweatshirt, sweatpants, hat and gloves. A donation of $10 can supply a child in need with one of these kits.
“It is extremely difficult to educate students who come to school cold and hungry. We must meet those two needs before we can get their full attention in the classroom,” said Bill Horan, Principal Loch Lomond Elementary School, according to the Chamber of Commerce website.
Kits will be distributed to Title 1 Schools, schools in which at least 40 percent of students “are eligible for free or reduced lunch,” in Prince William County and the Cities of Manassas Park and Manassas.
Donations and kits support the students by keeping them warm and by showing them their community supports them.
“The great thing about this program is it stays in the community, and it sends a really nice message to the students that this is a community that cares about them,” said Emily Guerrero, Director of Communications.
The Chamber of Commerce hopes to distribute 500 Winter Warm-UP kits.
“As of Friday we have about 300 kits. Our goal is 500, and because of the current economy our need is greater than ever,” said Guerrero.
February 14 is the last day to donate a Winter Warm-UP kit for this year.
Individuals can donate at Kitsforkidz.org.
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