UMO Collegiate FFA Provides Warm Weather Gear for Kids in Need
UMO Collegiate FFA Provides Warm Weather Gear for Kids in Need
MOUNT OLIVE – For the past eight years the Collegiate FFA at the University of Mount Olive has provided coats to needy children in the Mount Olive area. Over 375 students from Carver and Brogden Elementary Schools are receiving coats, hats, and gloves. Santa and his elves will assist with the distribution of the new coats and accessories.
“The need for coats has increased dramatically from last year with almost 100 more coats needed,” stated CFFA president, Preston Brown, a junior agriculture education major from Zebulon, NC. “We have been reaching out to businesses and individuals within the community to help us meet the growing need for winter clothing. Although we have not reached our needed goal of nearly $8000, we are getting close and hope to be able to fulfill the needs of the children in our community.”
Freshman Rachael Schauer, an ag production systems major from Waxhaw, NC noted, “The Coats for Kids project is an ongoing CFFA tradition and serves so many children in our Mount Olive community at the time of year when giving should be our focus. I look forward to seeing the excited faces when we give out the coats, hats, and gloves.”
The Collegiate FFA works with Operation Warm to acquire the number of coats needed. Operation Warm is an organization dedicated to helping families in need, believing that every child deserves to feel warm, healthy, and valued.
“This is a great project. In addition to meeting the need for warm coats, we were able to contact Santa in time for him to come and visit with the children as well. These kids are all smiles when they start off their day with new coats and a visit from Santa,” stated Sarah Harkey a junior ag education major from Mt. Pleasant, NC.
“This is my third year working with Coats for Kids and it continually amazes me as to how the community really steps up to meet the need for this project. We have also been fortunate to have received a mini-grant from the CHS Foundation which supports building and strengthening rural communities which has been a big help as well. This project really makes you appreciate what we take for granted and gives us a chance to see the impact we are making on these children’s lives,” stated Ryan Berglund, a junior ag education major from Raleigh.
Should you wish to contribute to the UMO CFFA Coats for Kids Project all donations are tax deductible and can be sent to:
UMO CFFA
Coats for Kids Project
634 Henderson St
Mount Olive, NC 28365
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit old.umo.edu.
