ELKHART -- Last year, the faltering economy left many Elkhart Community Schools students in need of cold-weather clothes. This year, students need help again.

At the end of last week, 69 percent of ECS students qualified for the free and reduced lunch program, indicating their families are experiencing some degree of financial need. Because of the financial strain an increasing number of students are showing up at school without adequate clothing.

John McClure, health services coordinator for ECS and school nurse at Monger Elementary, estimated about 25 percent of Monger's students are lacking essential clothing, especially winter footwear. Families without adequate income often have to decide whether to buy new clothes or whether to buy food.

Bruce Klonowski, principal of Hawthorne Elementary, said there's no question the economy is continuing to take a toll on his students. Over 90 percent of the school's roughly 560 students qualify for free and reduced lunch, and despite the cold weather many of them arrive at school in short-sleeved shirts.

"For this many kids to go without these things ... to me it continues to be overwhelming," Klonowski said.

Ninety-three percent of the 594 students at Roosevelt Elementary qualify for free and reduced lunch. Roosevelt has a constant need for donations, and not just because of the economy.

"Every year we have a need, and I don't see anything more drastic this year than last year," said Danielle Miller, Roosevelt's school social worker.

Students in upper-level grades also need help staying warm. Eulah Mitchell, a social worker at Pierre Moran Middle School, said there's a greater need for warmer clothes as the expanded walk zones mean many students have to walk further to school in cold weather.

Mitchell said many students' families have been affected by layoffs and downsizing. And if warm clothes within families are scarce, Mitchell said older students are likely to pass their gloves, hats and coats onto their younger siblings.

Although students in need of warmer clothing has become a regularity, so has the generosity of the community and ECS faculty and staff.

Many of the schools have coat closets filled with coats, hats gloves and other clothing that will keep kids warm. St. Paul's United Methodist and Trinity United Methodist Churches, along with the Salvation Army, have helped keep Monger and Hawthorne's closets stocked.

Ziker Cleaners has also provided an invaluable service to the district. Ziker collects coats, cleans them and makes them available for ECS student service personnel to use in stocking their coat closets. And on Friday Trinity Lutheran School began a clothing drive which will benefit ECS.

Mark Tobolski, principal at Memorial High School, said oftentimes student organizations have service projects to provide food and other essentials for students that would otherwise go without.

Tobolski said between 49 and 54 percent of Memorial's students qualify for free and reduced lunch. While clothes are needed, Tobolski said the greatest priority is food. Tobolski also said the school tries to be discrete with donations. Students at the high school level may feel embarrassed that they're in need, he said, and officials try to be sensitive to students' feelings while meeting their needs.

In many cases, a school's faculty is responsible for identifying students who could use a heavier coat or a sturdier pair of shoes. Dan Swygart, assistant principal at Central High School, where about 50 percent of students qualify for free and reduced lunch, said teachers often have an eye out for students' needs. In some cases, he said, they'll take it upon themselves to provide for students by going through their own closets or with monetary donations.

WANT TO HELP?

If you're interested in providing less-fortunate ECS students with the items they need to stay healthy through the winter contact the office of the school you're interested in donating to for precise instructions.

The Elkhart Truth will also be accepting donations of coats, hats, mittens/gloves, scarves, underwear, socks and boots, which will go to Elkhart Community Schools. Donations can be dropped off at the Truth offices at 421 S. 2nd St. until Dec. 14. Items will be delivered to schools on Dec. 16.