T-R PHOTO BY MIKE DONAHEY
Rotarian Jerry Stephens gives directions to other Rotarians on proper sorting of 360 donated winter coats at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA Friday. The coats were distributed to needy Marshalltown students at private and public schools.

Nasty Iowa winters complete with freezing rain and sub-zero temperatures will be a lot easier to bear for 360 local students thanks to the generosity of Marshalltown Rotary Club members.

Club members opened their wallets and donated $6,000 to purchase the coats.

With Iowa’s coldest months just ahead, the donation is timely.

“Every private and public school in Marshalltown ordered winter coats for their needy students,” Rotarian Kim Jess-Ramirez said. “The non-profit Children Abuse and Prevention Services agency also ordered for clients. We based our order on all the requests.”

On Friday, club members unpacked dozens of coat boxes shipped by Operation Warm — a national not-for profit.

They were then sorted by school and delivered by the Marshalltown Fire Department.

The Marshalltown Rotary Club combined their coat order with other Rotary Clubs in their district to get the lowest price.

Jass-Ramirez and Rotarian Jerry Stephens said this year’s order of 360 coasts was consistent with other years.

It marked the seventh year in a row the club has sponsored a winter coat program.

The club has a sterling reputation for responding to local, area and international projects where volunteers or monetary aid is necessary.

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Contact Mike Donahey at

641-753-6611 or

mdonahey@timesrepublican.com