CHILLICOTHE, OH (December 8, 2025) – Sometimes, a new coat represents more than just a way for a child to stay warm.
“Thanks to our Coats for Kids partnership with Adena Health, our kids are better prepared to come in and learn,” said Audrianna Dettwiller, counselor at Paint Valley Elementary School. “All of them want to show off the coat that they got to their friends and teachers, and it gets them excited for the day.”
“Every year, our students love getting the new coats,” said Trish Wallace, community inclusion coordinator for the Pioneer Center in Ross County. “Our parents appreciate it, too, because sometimes that helps them afford other things their students may need such as sensory items and other tools to allow them to succeed.”
Since launching its Coats for Kids program in 2007, Adena providers, caregivers, and community supporters have supplied more than 17,200 coats to students in need. This year’s generous response once again ensured that every coat requested by participating schools would be provided — even with coat requests increasing more than 40% over 2024.
“At Adena Health, we often talk about caring for our communities, but this effort truly shows what that care looks like in action,” said Jennifer Crawford, manager of community health and development at Adena. “Together with our community partners, our caregivers participating in Coats for Kids are helping bring warmth and dignity to more than 1,700 children this year. It’s moments like these that remind us why we serve — to lift up our community and meet its needs beyond our hospital and clinic walls.”
For the children receiving coats, delivery day has become something special.
“We have been handing them out all morning, and the delight and excitement on their faces is priceless,” said Abigail Duffy, counselor at Jackson Middle School. “We appreciate the way this program keeps our kids warm and, in many cases, safe.”
Coats for Kids is one of several ways Adena invests in the health and well-being of children across its nine-county service area. From school-based health clinics and mobile clinic services to full-time athletic trainers supporting student-athletes, Adena remains committed to being a trusted partner in children’s health and safety.
With the completion of this year’s coat drive, planning is already under way for the 2026 program with the expectation that the need will continue to grow. Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Adena Health Foundation’s Coats for Kids Fund can visit Adena.org/donate and select “Coats for Kids” under the “I want to support” menu to make a difference in a child’s life.