Coats, winterwear donated by union to Jackson Public Schools
JACKSON, MI - Many students in Jackson’s largest school district will be able to stay warm this winter because of a donation of winter clothing.
Jackson Public Schools received hundreds of articles of clothing Wednesday, Jan. 29, from district alumnus James Johnson Jr., business representative for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 252.
“I’m really happy that my organization put me in a position where I can give back to my alumni and the school I went to,” Johnson said.
Using $2,500 from the union’s general fund, Johnson purchased about 100 new coats from Columbia Sportswear to go to JPS students in need. Members of the union also hosted a clothing drive gathering 10-12 bags full of “gently-used” clothes - including boots, hats, socks and coats - also to be used by students, Johnson said.
Southeast Michigan Building Trades - for which Johnson works as secretary treasurer - donated an additional $500 for the purchased of about 50 winter hats for any JPS students who need them.
“This will help our middle school and high school kids who are most likely to not wear a coat because they don’t have one,” said Assistant Superintendent Kriss Giannetti.
District administrators receive frequent requests from staff members and parents about kids without proper winter clothing, who in many cases can’t afford to buy their own.
The clothing was delivered Wednesday to the Middle School At Parkside, where it will be temporarily stored while the district identifies which students in which schools are in need, Giannetti said. In the coming weeks, the clothing will be disseminated throughout the district to be stored in each school’s “community closets.”
Johnson coordinated the donation and delivery with the help of Jackson School Board member Derek Dobies, who joined fellow board members Shalanda Hunt, Marilyn Acton, Subba Reddy and Cheryl Simonetti in sorting through the clothes at Parkside.
“We’re always trying to find ways to give back to our community and to show our community that we’re partners,” Johnson said. “This is what we do all year long.”
Johnson, a JPS alum from the Class of 1997, said he is always open to lending his talents to help his alma mater.