Rosa Foundation comes to aid of students needing winter coats

James Rosa, co-founder of the Rosa Foundation with wife T’ebony, and helper Tiffany Durham hand out new winter coats during a drive-through event Saturday at Contentnea-Savannah K-8 Schools. The Rosa Foundation donated 200 new coats for LCPS elementary schools to distribute to students based on need.

A Greensboro-based foundation with ties to Lenoir County has donated 200 new winter coats to LCPS elementary schools for distribution to students who most need them.

James Rosa and wife T’ebony, who created the Rosa Foundation in 2018 as a wide-ranging charitable project, kicked off the donation Saturday morning by handing out about 40 coats for students from Southeast Elementary School and Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School during a drive-through event at CSS.

“This donation is about having more than just a coat. It’s about providing more than just warmth. It’s letting students know that we’re here for you, that we’re able to provide for you in case you need anything,” T’ebony Rosa said.

A native of New York, James Rosa lived for a time in Grifton and still has family in the area, including three grandchildren who attend CSS. “I still have ties to the community and want to come here and support the community,” he said. “Just because I live three hours away doesn’t mean I can’t come here and provide as much support as I can.”

The couple was in Lenoir County in December to distribute boxes of groceries to senior citizens, one of several similar projects the Rosa Foundation has undertaken since the coronavirus pandemic put more people at risk and narrowed the foundation’s focus some to basic needs like food and clothing.

Shortly before Christmas, the foundation distributed 500 winter coats, about a hundred food boxes and more than a thousand face coverings during an event focused on Guilford County’s Title I schools.

“The reaction, the feeling that someone cares, the glow on the children’s faces and the smile – that’s all the thank-you that we need,” T’ebony Rosa said.

The Rosa Foundation acquired the coats through a grant from Operation Warm. Along with the coats distributed Saturday, the Rosas also gave away face coverings.

Southeast Elementary principal Rashida Yellock and Nicoltra Braswell, a school counselor at CSS, coordinated the Saturday event for their respective schools, determining students’ needs and sizes and coordinating with parents for pickup. Remaining coats will be allocated to LCPS elementary schools for distribution by school administrators.

“We appreciate everything the Rosa Foundation did today in helping collect coats for our students who are really in need of these,” Yellock said.

Also on hand for the distribution were LCPS Superintendent Brent Williams and CSS principal Rhonda Greene.

“We really do appreciate the effort and hard work the Rosa Foundation has put forth in helping our boys and girls secure coats. We’re looking forward to working with them in the future,” Greene said.

More information about the foundation can be found at its website, www.rosa-foundation.com.