With one of Tallahassee’s coldest months approaching, one Leon county group is doing its share to help keep kids warm.
Shriners of the Ahmed Temple Number 37 donated 50 brand new thick winter coats to the students of John J. Riley Elementary School. The group also delivered a check for $750 for the school’s general fund. The group’s leader, Dr. Otis Kirksey, said the coats should help warm the kid’s minds and bodies.
"You want every child to be warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If he's warm, he's feeling good, it can probably impact his academic success, along with overall well being," Kirksey said.
The jackets were initially meant to come in earlier in the season, but shipping delays held back the delivery. According to school officials, guidance counselors and social workers will determine which of the 600 elementary students will receive the new jackets.