BENTON, Ill. (WSIL) — Winter is coming, and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is making sure local students don’t face the cold without a warm coat. The second annual Cops, Community, Coats and Kids winter coat drive kicked off this week, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to help keep children in Franklin County schools cozy through the season.

Sheriff Kyle Bacon said last year’s drive was a big success, helping about 150 students, and the feedback from families and community partners was overwhelmingly positive. This year, he hopes to reach even more children.

“It’s our second annual coat drive, and last year we had great success partnering with our community — individuals and businesses alike,” Bacon said. “We’re excited to get started again and see how many kids we

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