Santa appreciated the community support filling his sleigh with toys or in this case the Just For Kids Foundation trailer
Coat and Toy Drive Big Success
Bay City Schools' Mike Gwizdala, F.P. Horak and Hank Graff are big help
December 13, 2007
By: Kevin Leahy
The F.P. Horak Company was generous to provide a visible drop off site for the Coats for Kids drive
Bay City School Busses lined up at F.P. Horak.
A growing pile of Coats for Kids at F.P. Horak Wednesday
Hank Graff Chevrolet on Wilder hosted the Just For kids Foundation trailer Wednesday collecting toys for children who may not get have the opportunity to open many come Christmas morning.
While F.P. Horak along with Bay City Public Schools Transportation Department hosted a coats for kids drive the same day.
Because of the community support, both were very successful based on the amount of toys and winter wear collected.
Maier and Associates runs the "Just for Kids" Foundation whose sole purpose is to improve the lives of less fortunate kids in Bay County. If you would like to help the Foundation or make a contribution, feel free to call them at 989-667-KIDS for further information.
With the temperatures dipping into the teens for many mornings already, students waiting for their bus need to be bundled up. Unfortunately for many of the Bay City Public School students winter has come too quick, and some are not adequately prepared for it.
"The drivers are the first ones to see the kids in the morning and with the cold weather we noticed a need," said Mike Gwizdala, director of Transportation for the Bay City Public Schools.
That's what sparked the Coats for Kids campaign that was conducted Wednesday, Dec. 12 at F.P. Horak.
Veteran Bay City drivers Lynn Santoviz and Judy Musielak, along with Mr. Gwizdala, organized the one-day coat drive.
Tim Hortons kindly kept the crew supplied with hot coffee all day, while Tim Brandow from TV 5 covered the drive that morning. "Every bit of support helps this time of year," said Gwizdala.
"The drivers wanted to help with the kids who were in need of a new coat," he added.
Superintendent Carolyn Wierda is supportive of the drive and noted that much positive feedback has been received. "We are hoping to make this an annual affair," he added.
Two locations are still set up to receive donations of coats, hats, gloves, scarves and other winter apparel:
1-The 7-11 in Auburn across from Western High;
2-Bay City Public Schools Transportation Department, 7 Mile and Midland Road. 989-662-4416
"We will take any and all coats of any size," said Gwizdala. The coats will be given to Bay City School students first, and then distributed to other organizations to give to students according to need.
Please support and donate if you can. Thanks again and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
It turned out a beautiful day Wednesday as Mike Gwizdala from Bay City Public Schools was filling the bus's with Coats For Kids
The Just For Kids Foundation Trailer was at Hank Graff Wilder Rd. Wednesday collecting toys
Santa was at Hank Graff Wednesday posing for pictures as Brenna Leahy was dropping off a toy