Our Evening with The Honorable Tom Ridge drew a crowd of 300 as he discussed issues of homeland security and what America can do to be safe again. For photos from this exclusive Lehigh Valley engagment, click here.

TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE COAT DRIVE AND 1-DAY FOOD DRIVE, CLICK HERE.

The Tikkun Olam social action group of the JFLV's Young Adult Division completed the coat drive and delivered the nearly 1,000 winter wear items to Allentown's Central Elementary School on Friday, Jan. 22.

More than 700 (!) coats and jackets were collected, as well as many other winter attire, such as hats, scarves, gloves, boots and more.

Tikkun Olam chairperson, Shoshana Gosselin, along with committee members Fay Kun (with husband Michael), Missy Maggioncalda, Rachel Shurman, and JFLV staff members Keren Saltz and Temple Coldren loaded more than 100 bags of clothes Friday morning.

The items were collected at various drop off sites around the Lehigh Valley, including the JFLV office, the JCC, the Jewish Day School, Temple Beth El, Congregation Keneseth Israel, Congregation Sons of Israel, ABC Pediatricians offices, the office of Dr. Scott Rice, Bear Creek and Blue Mountain ski resorts and Panera Bread locations in Allentown's West End and Trexlertown.

Central Elementary is located in Center City, Allentown. More than 90-percent of its students come from low income families, and the vast majority of them receives reduced and free lunches. The school operates a community "Clothing Closet" which offers clothes – at no cost -- to students and their families, as well as area residents. More than 350 families are served through the Clothing Closet each year. The school also offers a food pantry, which has seen an increase in the number of clients served.

We would like to thank every one who donated a coat or other winter wear item. The children at Central and the area residents will have a much warmer and safer winter because of all of you.