Out of Tuesday’s Mars Area School Board meeting came the news that the district was recently gifted nearly 50 winter coats in a variety of sizes and styles from Butler County District Attorney Richard Goldinger.

The card that came with the coats explained that everything was donated by members of the Butler County community at an event he had sponsored.

“So we sorted them all out this week, and we got them all out to the building principals,” said assistant superintendent Elizabeth McMahon. “They’re going to be the ones that know children in need.”

The harsh memory of the unbelievable cold snap we received over the holidays makes news of the donation all the more comforting.

It’s hard to imagine being without proper winter attire when that arctic weather hits and impossible to do so when it’s children not equipped to deal with it.

The entire situation has made us reflect on how lucky we are to live in a county such as ours, where officials do everything they can to help those who might need it the most, with citizens willing to help standing behind them.

These are people who take the initiative to remind everyone else to step out of their own heads for a moment and think of others. As hard as it may be to do so in the world we live in today, it’s important that it happens.

Thank you to Richard Goldinger, the people who donated the coats, and the people involved with distributing them to students who need them.

—CM