The Dutcher Middle School and Turlock High School girl’s basketball programs donated more than 200 coats to the Coats 4 Kids campaign in Turlock.

Coats 4 Kids local coordinator Ricardo Jimenez was encouraged by both teams enthusiasm for the program.

“They really jumped all over it and they did a great job,” he said.

Turlock High varsity head coach Salinda Mabie said her girls collected more than 100 coats in the matter of a couple weeks.

“They basically formed an e-mail tree with their friends and families to get all the coats. Anytime we can do anything to help the community, the girls understand how important this is and they go all out,” she said. “I’m very proud of them.”

At THS 35 girls at all three levels — frosh, junior varsity and varsity — participated in the coat drive, collecting new and gently used coats for infants to teenagers. Freshman Sara Garcia collected the most coats with seven.

At DMS the team’s efforts earned them a pizza party and a raffle ticket for each coat collected toward $1,000 for their school.

To contact Jonathan McCorkell e-mail jmccorkell@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2015.