Loyal’s Project Snow Gear equipping kids for the cold
Winter and the cold weather that it brings is fast approaching, and with its arrival comes the return of Project Snow Gear at the Loyal School District. Started last year by K-12 Financial Literacy teacher Jessica Zarnke to provide all students with the outdoor winter clothing they need, the project is expanding its scope this year to help make sure that every student can get what they need throughout the winter months.
Information about Project Snow Gear was first sent out to families a couple weeks ago to kick off this year’s effort to get every student -- no matter their age -- the snow gear they need, from coats to boots. If there is a need, families are encouraged to fill out a confidential form that will allow staff and community donors the opportunity to purchase the items for students and have them sent home with them in a timely fashion.
“Several staff members and community members have donated to this,” said Zarnke. “I want to thank the donors from last year and this year who have helped us, we have a great staff and community that helps support this. We want to be able able to give the kids the gear they need to be able to enjoy winter and have their own adventures.”
Last year, the Loyal School District was able to provide snow gear to 10 students who had items requested. Initially modeled after projects like Angel Tree -- which collects listed items and sends them out at a set date -- Zarnke said Project Snow Gear is taking a slightly different approach to its efforts this year after they found a continuous need among students after the project had run its course last winter.
“At the end of last year we found there was a continuous need for snow gear,” said Zarnke. “There were 10 student applications for items, but then we got continued requests from parents and teachers throughout the winter months. Kids would outgrow their boots or coats and would need another. They would reach out to us to see if there was any way to get them these things, so we would go out and purchase the things that they would need.”
Helping Project Snow Gear continue its much-needed work, Zarnke said, were the donations of many staff and community members and a large donation of $2,500 from the Loyal Economic Development Corporation, which dissolved last year. The monetary donations, she said, have provided the project with a good nest egg they can dip into throughout the winter months if and when snow gear is needed.
“We got a large donation from the Loyal Economic Development Corporation for Project Snow Gear,” she said “There is still a need and with this donation we can at least meet as many needs as possible.”
Already, Zarnke has noted there have been changes in the demographics being served this year compared to last year. In the first year, she said a lot of the snow gear purchased went to elementary students, and while there are still elementary students on the list this year, there were now more middle school and even high school students on the list asking for gear to get through the winter months. It just shows, Zarnke said, that the need is everywhere.
“This year 15 students have applied so far and it’s not repeat students either,” she said. “Primarily last year we had elementary students and a few middle school students that needed gear. This year we got at least 2-3 high school student requests and a bit more for middle school. This is affecting everybody from 4K to 12th grade. Immediately when they think about the kids, they think about the elementary kids because they go outside for recess, but the need is all across the board.”
And that need for snow gear is only getting exacerbated by the continuing rise of inflation. When they first started Project Snow Gear, Zarnke said families were struggling with the costs of items after going through struggles in the COVID-19 pandemic. But now, instead of getting better, things have only gotten harder for those same families.
“It’s only gotten worse,” she said. “Looking at prices, last year jackets were $40. Now they’re $60 for a jacket. Snow boots, too, I think the cheapest I’ve seen is $39. Snowpants are costly, too. The inflation has made it even harder for families, they are really feeling how little wiggle room they have for their budgets. I know for my family that all the wiggle room is going to food, and I’m sure that it’s the same for a lot of these families. We need to be able to provide this for the kids and ensure that they are warm and are able to enjoy the long winter months that we have.”
From among the 15 applications Project Snow Gear has received so far, Zarnke said they have received sponsors for about 10 of them. Those students will be supplied with their new snow gear as it comes in, and requests for snow gear will be accepted throughout the winter months as the need arises. Zarnke said this model will be the best way to make sure that no student at Loyal will be heading out into the cold winter air unprotected and risking their health and general well-being to the elements.
“We want to be able to support this and shop for the items that they need,” she said. “We have sent a list of the needs to the staff and three-fourths for the kids on that list have already been sponsored by the staff. It is really cool. The items start rolling in and instead of holding onto it like we did last year, it goes right out to the students. There is a hope that we will be able to get enough donations for the 15 students and hope that we can continue to get donations so that money will roll over into next year if we need it. We plan on continuing to provide this throughout the winter as the need arises.”
If anyone is interested in donating to Project Snow Gear, monetary donations can be sent to the Loyal School District under the label of “Project Snow Gear.” For those who wish to help sponsor a student or for more information about Project Snow Gear, contact Jessica Zarnke at jzarnke@loyal.k12.wi.us.
