RICHMOND, Va. -- PTA leaders from Overby-Sheppard and John B. Cary elementary schools are now on a mission to make Thanksgiving memorable for children in need.
They are collecting hundreds of meals and warm coats for the holiday.
They plan to spread out the 400 collected coats to several Richmond elementary schools.
"This will bring to light, something that we need in the community -- togetherness," parent Mario Brown said.
Brown along with Priscilla Wright and Timika Vincent said they hoped to fill in a void left as so many families dealt with COVID-19 and the pandemic's health, social, and economic impacts.
"We always say it takes a village and right now our villages are faltering because of everything that's going on," Vincent said. "Now is the time to rebuild the village because if we can't support each other as a community, then we're not going to be able to move forward in this world."
On Wednesday afternoon the organizers manned a drop-off collection site at Overby-Sheppard on 1st Avenue in Richmond.
They collected canned goods, gift cards to purchase Thanksgiving meals, and coats.
A contactless donation drop off will take place again:
- November 19 from 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- November 20 from 7:30 a.m. - 9 a.m.
"We have to live in the city and in order to make the city better, we have to work together to make it happen."
Next Monday and Tuesday, organizers will continue this drop off donation site here at Overby-Sheppard Elementary.
They will then distribute those 200 meals and coats to families in need on November 25.