A Lake County employee collected 125 jackets and coats for the school district – after finding out children were coming to school unprepared for colder temperatures.
- Woman collects coats for students in Lake County
- Many students were unprepared for colder temperatures
- So far, 125 jackets and coats have been collected
Andrea Kennard works as a commissioner’s aide at Lake County Board of County Commissioners office.
She said this past Christmas she worked with the Lake County school district to help a family with six children who are homeless, but then found out the school district was concerned they wouldn't have enough winter clothing for students.
"I help someone every year,” she said. “I was raised that it’s better to give than receive."
Kennard worked with Kristin McCall, the homeless liaison for Lake County Schools.
"In the past few years we have not had really cold winters,” McCall said. “We have not had a high need for heavy jackets. This year when we were having freezing temps for multiple nights, we had a lack of heavy winter gear.”
McCall said students were showing up in regular school attire with a light jacket or no jacket and shorts.
"It's not their fault that they’re homeless or their parents are out of work,” Kennard said. “So we have to do our part. It takes a community a village it takes all of us.”
Lake County school officials say there are 2,000 homeless students—families living with other families, in cars or at area motels—in the district.