Cari Reid’s second grade class organized a Winter Coat drive at Truckee Elementary School. The students prepared the school gym on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 for a rotating group of peers, parents, and volunteers who filled the room with passion and enthusiasm surrounding the drive.
“[The students] get to see the power of being able to donate and buy second hand, as well as making handmade books and the other students of Truckee Elementary come listen to them,” Reid said.
The gym floor was bordered with stations set up by Reid’s second grade class that educated others on topics of their choice surrounding sustainability. Mats lined the floor piled high with donated coats and winter clothes being sorted by community volunteers. The winter clothes were to be sorted before repair, and each item was inspected for cleanliness, tears, and wear.
“They have six stations, and some are ones called helping hands, talking about how to help our community,” Reid said. “One’s called Fast Fashion, just talking about how clothes are made very quickly and cheaply.”
Above the gym on the small stage was the sight of multiple sewing stations where Roundhouse and Quilt Club volunteers sat working on garments handed up to them. As students filtered out of the stations on the gym floor, they took part in repair processes with volunteers, intently listening to directions and enthusiastically participating.
The winter coat drive itself was put on by community volunteers from the Truckee Roundhouse, Truckee Community Cares, and the Quilt Club as well as family members interested in helping the cause.
“Some of the items are being donated to Truckee Community Cares, and then some items are being repaired so that they can [be taken] back to reuse,” Reid said.
Every class at Truckee Elementary was invited to participate. These students rotated in and out of the gym, allowing a quick tour of the stations to listen to the presentations read aloud from handmade books.
Though many coats and winter garments brought in for repair were for students of Truckee Elementary School, several pieces of clothing were there for repair and donation to Truckee Community Cares. Truckee Community Cares gift jackets, warm clothing, and toys to children and families in need during the holiday season, and seek to support the Truckee Donner community.
The 2025-2026 school year is Reid’s second year putting this event together with her students. Last year, this event won first place in the Blue Square category of the Shane McConkey Eco Challenge. Truckee Times staff covered this event last year as well, and can be read here.
