Bubba's Closet opens its doors to hundreds

Hundreds of 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 in central Lincoln, where families stood in line outside starting at 7 a.m. - an hour 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. The warm clothing came just in time, with nighttime lows dipping into the 20s this week.

“As a principal I see children daily as the weather changes not having warm clothes,” said Pam Hale, principal at Norwood Park Elementary School and the primary organizer of Bubba’s Closet. “I know at my own school I want to make sure they have warm clothing and I know that's true for all of us as principals throughout the city.”

The distribution event is over but there are still ways to help.

You can still donate new coats and other articles of clothing by contacting Norwood Park Elementary (402-436-1155) 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.

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