The 13th annual coat drive hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 12 brought in an “overwhelming” amount of winter clothing for Elyria School students Nov. 4-5.
Shirley Messaros, a long-time member of the auxiliary who has served as the president of the club and now is the chairman of Americanism and education for the unit, approached Elyria Schools 13 years ago while she was donating supplies for the students, she recalled.
Messaros asked what the most important items the students needed, and she was told winter coats.
“Kids were coming in with hoodies and nothing else. I couldn’t believe in this day and age, the kids didn’t have nice warm coats,” Messaros recalled.
From there, Messaros started her mission of rallying in the community for donations of new winter coats, hats and gloves, she said.
“I thought if Mike Trivisonno (the late long-time Cleveland radio host) could do it in Cleveland, then Shirley can do it in Elyria,” she said.
“This is my baby. I hope I can do it until the day I die,” said Messaros, who’s 87 years old.
This year’s event was again held at the American Legion Post, 393 Ohio St., in Elyria.
Messaros was “overwhelmed” by the end of the drive Nov. 5 as she and the other volunteers counted approximately 150 coats and 300 hats and gloves, she said.
“I can not get over that,” she said of the community’s generosity.
A member of the board of education will pick up the donations and distribute them to the school students, she added.
This year was worrisome for Messaros as the coat drive date approached due to the rising cost of living, Messaros was skeptical that people may not be able to afford to donate this year.
“I can’t say enough thank you’s to each of them,” Messaros said.
The coats and other winter weather gear include kindergarteners’ sizes, extra, extra large sizes for the older students and each size in between.
