STERLING HEIGHTS — For the second year, students and families at Black Elementary in Sterling Heights will work to make sure every child who needs a warm coat for the winter has one.

The annual Coats for Kids drive at Black started Sept. 29 and runs through Oct. 27, and all members of the community are urged to drop off new or gently used coats of all sizes outside the school cafeteria. The school is at 14100 Heritage Road in Sterling Heights.

Black Elementary PTO member Jennifer Terry said she’s hoping this year’s month-long drive will help surpass last year’s total of 50 coats in two weeks.

“We really want every kid to try and bring a coat in, and that would give us somewhere over 400 coats,” she said.

“It’s a pretty big goal, but we’re going to try and go for it.”

Terry said Black Elementary has a reputation for being a “very giving” school, and students and staff are anxious to help families in need this winter.

“We’re going to need sizes from babies all the way up to teenagers, which would be adult sizes too,” she said.

“We just love to help out in the community, and why not help families right in our area who can’t afford these essentials?”

Capt. Caleb Senn of the Salvation Army, Warren Corps said donations have been decreasing over the past five years due to the state of the economy.

“Last year, we helped over 800 families in south Macomb, which includes Warren, Roseville, Eastpointe, Harper Woods, St. Clair Shores and Center Line,” he said.

“We expect that to go up about 5 percent this year. People can start applying for Christmas assistance on Nov. 1, so we’re always in need of winter coats, warm clothes, toys, and canned and boxed food.”

Senn said the Salvation Army is also in need of cash donations to keep its day-to-day programs running, which includes the 50-bed emergency shelter, daily feeding program and programs for disadvantaged youths in Macomb County.

You can reach Staff Writer Robin Ruehlen at rruehlen@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1105.