“Almost breaks my heart,” Gover said. “I’ve seen kids hunkered down I guess in the turtle position with their arms tucked into their shirt, just sitting there waiting for the bus, or all the kids are all huddled around each other.”
At the beginning of December, he called Kathy Sherman, the president of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce, asking for some help with how to get his idea off the ground.
In just a matter of weeks the project has collected more than two large tubs packed with winter clothes. Gover is among the many people to give money to this cause as well. As of Wednesday, they had raised about $1,600 to pay to get the used clothes dry cleaned and to purchase other new items like coats, hats, scarves and gloves.
Everything collected will be donated to the Piqua City Schools transportation department. Each bus driver will then have an assortment of winter clothes to give out as necessary.
“They’re with the kids day in, day out,” Gover said. “They see the kids that really are going to benefit from this.”
As he looks over everything that has been donated so far Gover said he’s blown away. He never imagined this thought would generate so much interest from the community. He has a message for any kid that receives any of these clothes.
“I was very fortunate to have a mom and dad who cared tremendously about me,” Gover said. “I want them to feel that as well.”
Gover said the plan originally was for this to end today but they’re extending collections. Donations can still be made at the Piqua Chamber of Commerce throughout the winter. Those clothes will periodically be turned over to the PCS department of transportation. Anything left over will be donated to other charities.
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