Hundreds of students get new coats thanks to foundation

MILWAUKEE -- Hundreds of Milwaukee Public Schools students went home Thursday, November 15th with much more than they came to school with! All 338 students at Gwen T. Jackson School got brand new winter coats!

The Brewers Community Foundation and “Koos for Kids" provided the coats.  “Koos for Kids” is a non-profit organization started by Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel, to help terminally ill and disadvantaged kids.

“When we start putting others first, it's just so much better.  Just to see the smiles on these kids, what an encouragement to see that.  On the first year, we did 13 coats.  Now, this year we did over 1,200 coats with all the schools combined,” Hanel said.

The kids liked them too!

“It's cozy.  It makes me warm,” first-grader Kiyun Robinson said.

“It's warm in here,” first-grader Alandis Rucker said.

“(This one is better) because this one has fur and my other one broke,” first-grader Delilah Applewhite said.

From K3 all the way to fifth grade, it's a winter necessity that couldn't have come at a better time.

“We are about 98.3% free and reduced lunch here at Gwen T. Jackson.  We've noticed some students with thinner coats on and having these given to the kids has been a great help,” Principal Kanika Burks said.

For Hanel, it's all about giving back.

“I just think we have the responsibility to take care of the people in our backyard regardless of where it is,” he said.

The Brewers Community Foundation and “Koos for Kids” also dropped off coats at MPS' Siefert School Thursday.  This is the third year both groups have provided new coats to kids.