Daily Star photo/CRAIG HAUPERT Buchanan Middle School students Anthony Medlin, left, and Eli Craft work together Friday to sort coats that will be distributed next month as part of the Bundle-Up Buchanan coat drive.

BUCHANAN — Families are going to be a little bit warmer this winter thanks to a social studies community service project spearheaded by the seventh-graders of Buchanan Middle School.
Aided by the entire middle school body, the seventh-graders collected about 260 coats that will be distributed to the community in early December. The Bundle-Up Buchanan program has collected approximately 1,200 coats since its inception five years ago.
More than 400 coats and other winter clothing items were collected last year.
“It’s a little down this year, but part of that is the economy,” said Jim Brohman, Buchanan social studies teacher. “People are probably keeping coats and handing them off themselves.”
Dozens of students organized and sorted the coats after school let out Friday in the old Cole’s Building, located at 120 Front St. They were preparing for coat distribution, which will take place there Dec. 5-10.
Brohman said they have an open-door policy when it comes to handing out the free coats.
“People who need a coat to keep warm can come in and take home what they need,” he said. “No questions asked, no forms to fill out.”
Brohman said participation has been great by the seventh grade students, who are receiving a minimal amount of extra credit for volunteering.
“My thought is what a wonderful opportunity for these kids to give back to the community. It gives them an idea of what it is like to volunteer. Kids need to know how to help out in the community and the community’s need right now is great,” he said.
Sudsville Laundromat in Buchanan helped clean the donated items.