Orange and Black Get Fit launches hoodie drive for Ridgewood, Newcomerstown students

Orange and Black Get Fit classes are sponsoring a new or gently used hoodie drive to benefit Ridgewood and Newcomerstown school districts.

Ashley Klier, Dana Israel and Autumn Hendershot are instructors with the organization. The group has been working out together for about nine years and use Ridgewood and Newcomerstown schools as a place to hold their classes, so they became Orange and Black Get Fit. All of their classes are free.

Klier said they also use Fresno Bible Church and have used other churches. “As a thank-you to those locations for letting us use their space, we like to do give-backs,” she said. “We have done food and toy drives, school supplies, and other necessary needed items.”

The group decided to do something different to try to be sure all students had needed outerwear for the winter.

“I teach first grade Title 1 reading at Ridgewood,” Klier said. “Dana and I came up with a hoodie drive to give back to our ‘hood.’ We wanted to come together as we always do with our group to support others.”

All of the hoodies will be given to the three schools in each district.

The group is asking for new or gently used hoodies of all sizes to give to students at the schools for preschool to 12th grade. They are not accepting cash. Klier said she also teaches classes at the Coshocton Community Center, so if any items are collected that are not fit for students, she will donate the items to the community center.

The drive will continue until Saturday, Nov. 22. The drop-off location is at Get Fit Nutrition in West Lafayette or at any of the group's fitness classes that are posted on Facebook.