MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa — It may not feel like winter yet, but those colder temperatures are coming, and when they do, students in Marshalltown will be prepared for it.

Every single student at Anson Elementary School received a brand-new winter coat. This was a partnership between the national nonprofit Operation Warm and Lennox Foundation. 

Lennox Industries employee volunteers spent their Tuesday morning helping fit 350 coats on the students. 

“Winter is pretty harsh in Iowa, and coats can get expensive, especially with families that may have one or more kids,” Brittany Havens, with Lennox Industries, said. “This just allows parents to take one more thing off their list of things to prepare for winter.”

“With our school here in Anson, we have a lot of families that are low income and kids that come with a lot of needs,” said Jayden Cellars with Marshalltown Community School District. “And one thing that would help is a coat for them in the winter.”

“It’s pretty cute. They all look at it like their little shopping trip. They get to pick out their own color. They get their own personal shopper with them to lead them through the line and then go get their name, put inside their coat. That way that they know that coat is theirs to take home,” Havens said.

Marvin, who is in third grade, picked out a black jacket to take home.

“It’s good and soft,” he said. “I like wearing black because I feel like Michael Jackson.”

Even future pop stars need to stay warm. Or future doctors, accountants, teachers, etc. 

“If you don’t have a coat – it’s really serious not to have a coat, because then if you get frostbite, then your fingers – like you won’t be able to move it,” said Alice, another Anson student.

His classmate Carlee agreed.

“It is very cold in winter. If you don’t have a coat, you’re going to have to go to a hospital,” she said. “I love my new coat.”