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Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholar Program Donates 48 Coats to Adair County Head Start

Since its inception 14 years ago, 'Coats for Kids' has distributed more than 700 winter coats to Adair County Head Start.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (12/10/2025) — A Lindsey Wilson University community service program reached a milestone on Wednesday, Dec. 10, but more significant than the achievement is the program's impact.

Members of the LWU Bonner Scholar Program delivered 48 winter coats to Adair County Head Start. It's the 14th year the "Coats for Kids" program has outfitted Head Start's students with winter coats. Since the inception of "Coats for Kids," the Bonner Program has donated more than 700 winter coats to Adair County Head Start.

The coats were collected from donations from members of the Lindsey Wilson community as well as from Columbia-Adair County residents.

The response to the Bonner Scholars' efforts was so great this year that 59 coats were collected. The 11 additional coats will be given to other agencies that partner with the Bonner Scholar Program or kept for next year's "Coats for Kids," according to Lindsey Wilson Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton '13.

The fund drive also collected winter hats and gloves, as well as money that was used to purchase toys and games for Adair County Head Start. Those items will be distributed to Head Start students later in the school year.

Lighting up faces

The accomplishment of exceeding 700 total coats in the 14-year history of "Coats for Kids" was especially meaningful to Lindsey Wilson students Emmalee Miller '27 of Louisville, Kentucky, and Jay Woodall '27 of Somerset, Kentucky. Both students' Bonner Program service site is at the Family Resource Center at Adair County Primary Center, where Woodall said she often serves children whose families do not have the resources to purchase them a winter coat.

"To actually do something to give back to them and to see their cute little faces light up when they get a coat means a lot," said Woodall, who is a human services and counseling major.

Adair County Head Start serves 40 3- to 5-year-olds as well as eight children under the age of 3 in Early Head Start.

As an elementary education major, Miller said being part of "Coats for Kids" helps prepare her for her profession.

"Being able to bridge that gap in students' lives is what I want to do one day," said Miller, who pointed out that she and Woodall were both 5 years old when the program started.

'A spark for change'

"Coats for Kids" was started by 2015 Lindsey Wilson alumna Brooke Harmon Downey, who now teaches the first grade at Taylor County Primary Center in Campbellsville, Kentucky. Downey started the program after hearing stories about Head Start students who did not have winter coats from her mother, Gina, who is the center's local area manager.

Before this year's coats were distributed to the students, Downey had a brief facetime conversation with the four members of the Bonner Scholars Program who delivered them this year to Head Start.

"Our community has a lot of givers who always help in a time of need," Downey said.

Head Start Family Support Specialist Erica Rodgers has been involved with six of the "Coats for Kids" donations. She said the program is an annual reminder of the deep generosity of Columbia-Adair County residents.

"We do have a wonderful community that is always willing to give when needed," said Rodgers, who is a 2008 Lindsey Wilson alumna. "People are really generous in this town. They are really good about that."

Burton said one of the great qualities of "Coats for Kids" is that it helps bring out the best in the university and the community.

"It is one of our great programs at Lindsey Wilson because not only do we engage our staff and students in supporting the community, but we also rally the community to support one another," said Burton.

Burton called "Coats for Kids" a "spark for change."

"That flame is still burning 14 years later," she said.

On Wednesday, that flame of kindness produced a lot of smiles at Adair County Head Start during the visit from Burton, Miller, Woodall and Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend '23, who were dressed in festive Christmas colors and sporting red Santa caps. As the Lindsey Wilson quartet helped the students try on their new winter coats, smiles beamed from the children's faces.

"Seeing them grin from ear to ear meant so much to us," said Miller, who was smiling as well.

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

Media Attachments

Members of the Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholars program presented winter coats to students in the Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats -- along with winter hats and gloves, toys and games -- to Head Start. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has donated more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students. Joining the Head Start students are, from left: LWU student Jay Woodall ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky; LWU Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend ’23; LWU Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton ’13; Head Start teacher Courtney Wilson; Head Start teacher assistant Andrea Thomas; and LWU student Emmalee Miller ’27 of Louisville, Kentucky.

Members of the Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholars program presented winter coats to students in the Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats -- along with winter hats and gloves, toys and games -- to Head Start. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has donated more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students. Joining the Early Head Start students are, from left: LWU students Jay Woodall ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky, and Emmalee Miller ’27 of Louisville, Kentucky; Head Start primary caregivers Linae Furkins and Amber Franklin; LWU Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton ’13; and LWU Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend ’23.

Members of the Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Scholars program presented winter coats to students in the Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats -- along with winter hats and gloves, toys and games -- to Head Start. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has donated more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students. Joining the Head Start students are, from left: LWU Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend ’23; LWU student Jay Woodall ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky; LWU student Emmalee Miller ’27 of Louisville, Kentucky; and LWU Director of Civic Engagement, Student Leadership and the Bonner Scholar Program Kisha Burton ’13.

Lindsey Wilson University Bonner Assistant Director Yayi Sonnabend ’23 delivers winter coats to Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats -- along with winter hats and gloves, toys and games -- to Head Start. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has donated more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students.

Lindsey Wilson University student Jay Woodall ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky, delivers an armful of toys to Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Lindsey Wilson Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats -- along with winter hats and gloves, toys and games -- to Head Start. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has donated more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students.

Lindsey Wilson University students Jay Woodall ’27 of Somerset, Kentucky, left, and Emmalee Miller ’27 of Louisville, Kentucky, help students try on their new winter coats that were donated by the LWU Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” on Wednesday, Dec. 10. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has given more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students.

Lindsey Wilson University student Emmalee Miller ’27 of Louisville, Kentucky, receives a hug from an Adair County Head Start student after she helped him try on his new winter coat. The LWU Bonner Scholar Program’s “Coats for Kids” donated 48 winter coats to Adair County Head Start on Wednesday, Dec. 10. In the last 14 years, “Coats for Kids” has given more than 700 coats to Adair County Head Start students.

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