The GNPS Clothing Pantry hosted its fourth annual coat and clothing distribution event at Saddle Rock School on Dec. 6. More than 100 members of the Great Neck community attended the event and received free winter coats and clothing for children and adults.

Coats and clothing were provided through collection efforts led by the Sephardic Heritage Alliance, Inc. (SHAI), as well as contributions from staff and families within the school district. Additionally, donation drives and service learning activities at Saddle Rock provided pajamas, cold weather accessories, and even toys to brighten the holiday season.

Third-grade classes at Saddle Rock organized a pajama drive and collected 85 new sets of children’s pajamas for the distribution event. Fourth-grade classes participated in a service learning activity to prepare winter care kits for children and adults. Each kit—packaged in a bag and wrapped with a bow—included cold-weather accessories, socks, and a hand-written card from students. Also, a school-wide toy drive at Saddle Rock provided brand-new toys and games for local families to enjoy for the holidays.

The distribution event took place after school hours in the Saddle Rock gymnasium, which was lined with neatly organized tables and coat racks. School social workers, psychologists, teachers, administrators, custodians, and security staff provided a safe and welcoming environment as families perused tables for items that met their needs.

The GNPS Clothing Pantry at Saddle Rock, and the Community Closet located at South Middle School, are district initiatives that provide clothing, jackets, and shoes for students in need without interruption to their academic, social, and emotional learning. This community-wide clothing and coat distribution event, now in its fourth year, offers direct outreach and assistance to families throughout the Great Neck community.