4 • The Beacon December 17 , 2020
Opportunity School dresses up Main Street
By Tara Gracyk
TheCoshoctonBeaconToday . com
Students and staff members of the Opportunity School collaborated together on a community-service project called Dress Up Main Street .
Because of COVID the students have not been able to participate in a community-service project outdoors this year . However , that changed when Diana McKee saw a picture that inspired a project idea that would allow students and staff to be outdoors , give to others in the community and allow social distancing to be practiced .
McKee shared how she read about jackets being hung around trees in Bulgaria and Hungary during the winter months so those in need can take a jacket and keep warm . She thought it was a great idea and presented it to her bosses . Once everyone was on board , the project got underway .
Donations of new and gently used coats , hats , scarves , gloves and socks were collected via dropoff centers at the Opportunity School and the Department of Job and Family Services . Nikko ’ s Dry-cleaning donated hangers and plastic bags for the clothes to be placed in and hung on . Students and staff packaged the clothing items , wrote details about the
Tara Gracyk Donations of new and gently used coats , hats , scarves , gloves and socks were collected via drop-off centers at the Opportunity School and the Department of Job and Family Services . Main Street was then dressed up with the items for people in need to take .
items such as the size of the jackets on pieces of paper and attached them to the coats . Then students
Tara Gracyk Students and staff members of the Opportunity School collaborated together on their first community-service project called Dress Up Main Street .
and staff met in the afternoon on Dec . 7 and dressed up Main Street with the donated items .
A total of 96 coats varying in sizes were donated , and Main Street was lined with coats hanging from the trees for community members to take as desired .
According to McKee , each jacket had socks stuffed in the sleeves and either a pair of gloves , a scarf or a hat . Some coats had all of the extras included . “ Anyone in need or anyone who wanted the items can take them ,” McKee said .
McKee explained the project was designed to help teach the students responsibility and how good it feels to give to others .
Amber Jones Centrs , a student at the Opportunity School , said she enjoyed the project . “ It was nice . We got to help people who maybe couldn ’ t afford a coat , or who this year has been really hard on , or some who don ’ t have the money at Christmas ,” she said .
The students and staff have decided to make this an annual event . McKee said the goal for future years is for there to be more participation , more donations , and she would love to be able to get the shops on Main Street involved too .
“
It was nice . We got to help people who maybe couldn ’ t afford a coat , or who this year has been really hard on , or some who don ’ t have the money at Christmas .”
Amber Jones Centrs