UPTOWN — Every child at McCutcheon Elementary has a new warm jacket just in time for the holiday thanks to the generosity of a congregation of churches.
Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Renaldo Kyles, Director of Faith Based Initiatives for CPS, a team of representatives from various organizations and Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) handed out more than 350 coats — enough for every child at the school at 4865 N. Sheridan Road.
"It's already getting cold out so this is a great time to be a blessing during the Thanksgiving season," Kyles told the volunteers before handing out the winter coats.
Kyles started "Operation Love-a-Child" about three years ago and this year about 70 different churches participated. To donate, the churches "adopted" a classroom and were given a roster of the class and sizes for the coats. Then members of the church would adopt a child and provide a winter jacket, he said.
"Chicago winter can be brutal and you'll be surprised how many kids don't have good warm coats," Kyles said. "That's why I called this Operation Love-a-Child because all our children need to be loved and that's all they want."
McCutcheon has one of the highest populations of homeless children in CPS with about 124 last year — the most recent numbers available. More than 20,000 students in Chicago Public Schools were homeless last year, according to numbers from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
"This is really a big deal for our kiddos to have coats and gives us the peace of mind that they're warm," said Jenn Farrell, Principal of McCutcheon Elementary.
Friends of 46th Ward Schools is also collecting new hats, gloves, mittens and scarves for schools in the ward. The items are lost by children frequently and the group hopes to have enough on hand to supply through the winter season at the six schools.
Donations to their drive can be dropped off at Ald. James Cappleman's office, 4544 N. Broadway, Latin School of Chicago, 59 W. North Ave., or either of the Uptown Branch's of the Chicago Public Library. Donations will be accepted until Dec. 14. Donations can also be bought on an Amazon Wishlist here.
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