As students returned to school this week after the holiday break, we’re fortunate to have had a brief respite from the bitter cold temperatures we experienced a few weeks ago.
However, if you’ve lived in the St. Louis region for any length of time, you know the frigid weather will be back. And when it returns, some students will be without a warm coat, gloves, or a hat.
That’s why the Special Education Foundation has partnered with Special School District for the Critical Needs Coat Drive—to raise funds to buy warm, well-fitting winter coats for students who need them most.
Some families in our community are living below the poverty line and caring for a child with a disability. When they’re forced to choose whether to heat or eat, a proper winter coat can fall to the bottom of the list—even though it’s desperately needed.
A warm, comfortable coat is essential for every child—but it’s especially critical for a child with a disability
Think about the challenges a child in a wheelchair faces with most outerwear.
Traditional winter coats can be bulky and difficult to put on, and they may interfere with the wheelchair’s positioning equipment—especially for children who rely on complex supports such as laterals, harnesses, headrests, and other upper body supports.
A child with autism may be overly sensitive to scratchy seams and tags, loud zippers, or clothes and waistbands that feel too tight—making it even harder to find a coat they can tolerate wearing.
For many St. Louis County families facing higher costs and limited resources this winter, a new winter coat isn’t just helpful—it’s life-changing. It means safety, comfort, and the chance for a child to arrive at school ready to learn.
Please give today to SEF’s Critical Needs Coat Drive and help keep a child warm this winter. The deadline to make your contribution is Friday, January 9, at 11:59 p.m.—but the difference you make will last all season long.
A child with autism may be overly sensitive to scratchy seams and tags, loud zippers, or clothes and waistbands that feel too tight—making it even harder to find a coat they can tolerate wearing.
For many St. Louis County families facing higher costs and limited resources this winter, a new winter coat isn’t just helpful—it’s life-changing. It means safety, comfort, and the chance for a child to arrive at school ready to learn.
Please give today to SEF’s Critical Needs Coat Drive and help keep a child warm this winter. The deadline to make your contribution is this Friday, January 9th, at 11:59 pm—but the difference you make will last all season long.
