HRTS Calls on Sterling Community to Keep Kids Warm This Winter
- HRTS
- Aug 26
- 2 min read
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 2025

Sterling, VA – For many families in Sterling, back-to-school season comes with an extra layer of stress: preparing for the colder months without the means to purchase warm winter clothing. This year, the Hunger Response Team of Sterling (HRTS), a 501(c)(3) organization, is stepping up once again with its annual Winter Coat Drive, and is calling on the community to help ensure every child can face winter with warmth and dignity.
“Every coat represents more than warmth — it represents care, dignity, and the assurance that no child is forgotten,” said Kathleen Bellamy, HRTS Volunteer. “When a child arrives at school with a new coat, it’s one less barrier to learning, one more reason to feel confident.”
Meeting a Growing Need
The need is urgent: 1 in 5 children in the U.S. lives in poverty, and demand for winter coats has grown by 50% in recent years. Last year, HRTS provided over 400 coats to students across nine schools in the Sterling area. With the help of volunteers, donors, and local businesses, this year’s drive hopes to surpass that milestone.
Coats collected will be distributed directly through Sterling schools, including: Forest Grove E.S., Guilford E.S., Potowmack E.S., Rolling Ridge E.S., Sterling E.S., Sully E.S., Sterling Middle, Robey H.S., and Park View H.S., ensuring that help goes straight to the children who need it most.
How the Community Can Help:
The coat drive runs from July 27 to September 28, 2025. Community members can:
Donate new or gently used coats (children’s sizes 6–16) at participating local drop-off locations.
Sponsor a child with a new coat through a secure online donation.
Spread the word by sharing the campaign on social media, using resources available at sterlinghelp.org/wintercoatdrive.
Powered by Community Partnerships
This initiative is made possible through collaboration with local businesses and organizations, including Ridgetop Coffee & Tea, Local Provisions, Marco’s Pizza, USTA, and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church.
About Hunger Response Team of Sterling (HRTS)
The Hunger Response Team of Sterling (HRTS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to meeting hunger and critical needs with heart. Through Backpack Buddies, community food drives, seasonal initiatives, and partnerships with local schools, HRTS works to ensure no child in Sterling goes hungry or cold. Learn more at sterlinghelp.org.