PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Owens Community College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography faculty and students are reaching out those in need of coats and apparel during the winter months by distributing several hundred items ranging from coats to mittens Saturday mornings, Dec. 1 and 8.

The community outreach initiative is titled “Susie’s Coats” and named in honor of Owens Diagnostic Medical Sonograpy Chair Susan Perry of Woodville. Now in its sixth year, “Susie’s Coats” has provided over 2,200 winter clothing items to those less fortunate in the Toledo area.

According to Perry, who was once homeless as a child, the initiative began when she celebrated her 50th birthday six years ago. Her family asked what she wanted for her birthday, which is Dec. 1, and she told them that she is blessed to have everything that she could ever want or need in her life. For that reason, Perry told her family that she wanted to help others and “Susie’s Coats” became a reality.

In addition to becoming a family affair, the “Susie’s Coats” initiative has spread to the College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program in the last few years and involves Owens faculty and students.

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday (Dec. 1 and 8), Owens faculty and students will distribute winter clothing to those less fortunate at the corner of North Michigan and Adams streets in downtown Toledo from a trailer donated by Toledo Harley-Davidson in Toledo. Owens representatives will be distributing items until 11:30 a.m. both days.

For more information, or to donate, call (567) 661-7560 or 1-800-GO-OWENS, Ext. 7560.