DOWAGIAC — Recently, Beth Marshall looked into her coat closet and noticed six coats hanging up that she could donate to someone who needed them more.

Marshall, a Dowagiac native, and Brent Nate, the Dowagiac Union High School athletic director, are hosting a Share the Warmth Coat Drive from Nov. 1 to Nov. 16 to collect new and gently used coats, hats and gloves for students of Dowagiac Union Schools.

Before the cold weather hit, Marshall and Nate discussed ways they could help the community this year.  Marshall, who has a son in kindergarten in the district, and Nate, who knows many students, both witnessed students throughout the Dowagiac schools in need of coats. 

“You see kids walking around [when] it’s cold outside with no coats, no gloves and no hats,” Marshall said. “I know a lot of Dowagiac could use the help. Even if it’s just a coat, that’s one less burden on parents to have to worry about.”

The Share the Warmth Coat Drive will run for 15 days and have several boxes, which were donated from Welch Packaging in Elkhart, Indiana and placed around the community to collect donations.

“I just figured a short turnaround time would give people more of an initiative to give back and donate,” she said.

Marshall plans to place one box at each of the schools within the district, allowing families to send in donations with their students.

To encourage goal setting for the students, Marshall plans to host a pizza party for the classroom at each elementary school that brings in the most donated items. The hour classes at the middle school and high school that bring in the most donated items will win a donut party.

“Everyone likes to work towards a goal,” Marshall said. “I’m just going to provide the prizes personally out of my accounts. I don’t want that to fall on the school. This is for the community.”

The remaining boxes will be placed at local business spread throughout downtown Dowagiac in an effort to tag all bases and all clientele that come into the city, Marshall said.

After speaking with Superintendent Jonathan Whan, Marshall found out the district had about 2,100 to 2,200 students and set goal of her own — to gather 100 bundles through the drive. She considers a bundle to be a coat, a hat and a set of gloves.

With gently and used items being accepted, Marshall has contacted school organizations and will offer volunteer hours to students who are willing to help take items to the laundromat, so they can be washed and cleaned.

Marshall, who is a native of Dowagiac, grew up in the city, moved away briefly to attend college and found her way back to her hometown two years ago. With her strong ties to the community, she figured the drive will serve as a way to give back.

“If we can reach 100 kids, that helps,” Marshall said. “I hope I undershot the goal, and we will exceed.”

If the drive is successful, Marshall plans on hosting it annually to provide more warmth to Dowagiac Union Schools’ students.