Bubba’s Closet opens its doors to more than 300 students

More than 300 elementary school students can bundle up and stay a little warmer this winter, thanks to Bubba’s Closet.

The annual clothing giveaway program held its culminating event Saturday at McPhee Elementary School, where families stood in line outside starting at 6:30 a.m. - an hour and a half before the doors opened and children could pick out a winter coat, as well as gloves, hats, scarves and other articles of warm clothing.

As usual, Lincoln Public Schools elementary principals spearheaded the collection efforts and volunteered on Saturday, along with other LPS employees and community members.

For more than 20 years, Bubba’s Closet has typically collected between 500 and 1,200 donated winter coats every year. This year that number dipped to about 300 and, as is often the case, there were not enough coats for every student who showed up at Saturday’s distribution event.

But there are still ways to help.

You can still donate new coats and other articles of clothing by contacting Norwood Park Elementary and arranging a time to drop off the items. The clothing can be stored at Norwood Park until a child with a need is identified at any Lincoln school. You also can make a monetary donation through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools.