Coshocton Opportunity School spreads warmth with Dress Up Main Street

Coshocton Opportunity School's annual Dress Up Main Street was held Dec. 11, where students hung winter apparel from the trees on Main Street in Coshocton for anyone in need of warm outerwear this year.

Staff and students walked down Main Street and around Court Square hanging the coats on the trees. Anyone in need of a coat could take one. All the coats were on wire hangers, and the toboggans, socks and gloves were hanging in clear garment bags.

"Usually, they cover the Court Square up to Miller Funeral Home. Two-hundred-seventy-one coats were donated this year, and that's the most we have ever had. It's our community project. We try to teach the kids that it's nice to give back to the community and others," said Diana McKee, a paraprofessional at the Coshocton Opportunity School.

This was the sixth annual Dress Up Main Street.

"Some coats are new and some are gently loved," McKee said. "We have size 12 months to double extra large. The coats have been donated from people in the community. We had a generous donation from the Elks, and we were able to purchase brand-new scarves, gloves, coats and vests. This summer the staff volunteered over at Coshocton KOA, and they will donate to a nonprofitable charity of your choice. So we also had a donation from Coshocton KOA."

Senior Ashleigh Sloan said, "This is my second year of helping, and I really like it. It feels nice to help, and I really enjoy it. Every teacher and every student here is nice and kind, and I feel like I fit right in."

Sophomore Jayce Ingram said, "I just like helping people mostly."