For years a generous person in the community anonymously donated winter coats to Carlson Elementary but for some reason that didn’t happen this year. So the principal reached out to Operation Warm. They not only responded to say they would provide new winter coats but teamed up with Sheetz to ensure all of her students were prepared for the fall and winter months. “When they got back to me I figured they would give us 20 or 30 coats,” said Heather Graef, who has been teaching for more than 30 years but is new to the position of interim principal. Instead they brought 400 new coats in a variety of colors and sizes.

“So every student will get one,” Graef said Thursday of the 374 students attending Van Dyke’s Carlson Elementary in south Warren who were brought down one class at a time to pick out something they liked. “What do you think, blue or black,” a volunteer with Sheetz said to a little boy looking over the stack of puffer coats. His eyes lit up as soon as she asked him what he wanted, not what they had to give him. His first choice was too big so he and his volunteer helper returned to the pile where he picked out a bright orange coat with blue stripes. Then she zipped it up and asked him to raise his hands and give himself a hug — which was the final test to ensure it was a good fit.

It was perfect, which was confirmed by the smile on this face. “We’re really big on giving back to the community but this is our first time doing this,” said Becca Bunnell, a community engagement specialist with Sheetz referring to their partnership with Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that manufactures coats for needy children.

Sheetz is a family owned fueling station, restaurant and convenience store chain that plans to open more than 50 locations across the state including several in Macomb County, which recently saw its first store open in Chesterfield Township.

“We figured this was a good idea since Michigan is a cold weather state,” added Bunnell, who joined the volunteers helping children decide on a coat.

“We love these kinds of events because it’s an opportunity for volunteers to connect with the children and to show them that someone outside of their community cares about them,” said Heather Connolly, with Operation Warm. “The kids and the volunteers feel special. It’s really just a wonderful community outreach event.”

For more information about Operation Warm visit operationwarm.org/.