READING, Pa – Kids ask for a lot this time of year.
“Any student across the district just needs to talk with their school social worker and say, ‘I need a coat, I need something warm,’ and the social worker will bring them to the Knights Closet in their building or drive them to our centralized location to pick up a coat that will fit them and keep them warm,” said Emily Snisky, social worker with Reading School District.
But often a need, rather than a want, can have a lasting impact.
“The kids get super excited and have a big smile on their face. Families are very appreciative, just having less of a burden on them – shift the focus onto something else,” Snisky said.
As the temps continue to dip, the Reading Royals and 69 WFMZ-TV are teaming up to help the community by collecting new and used coats.
It’s the second year for this great partnership between the two organizations, and the need is even greater this year, especially for coats for elementary school kids.
“We accept coats of all sizes from our little ones to our high school ones but definitely our need right now is the more of the elementary school size,” said Snisky.
“The Reading Royals are ecstatic once again to partner with WFMZ 69 News. Fans can bring a gently used coat to our coat drive which will be at the front entrance,” said Erik Jesberger, broadcaster for the Reading Royals Hockey Team.
Donors who drop off a coat at the front of Santander Arena will get a voucher for a five-dollar ticket to the Reading Royals afternoon game on December 14th.
“We just had our first snow flurry of the winter [and] we want to make sure everybody is warm,” Jesberger added.