Marion Resident Trades Cookies for Coats and Blankets for the Homeless

Drop off a blanket or winter coat for someone in need, walk away with a bag of cookies. Sounds like a fair trade, right?

Angie Ungs, a para-educator at Bowman Woods Elementary, thinks so. Along with others — including Cedar Rapids resident Rachel Hopp, who came up with the idea — Ungs has spent the past week offering cookies in return for blankets, coats, boots, gloves, and other winter-related donations. 

This Sunday, Ungs stood in front of Marion Square Park with a table full of cookies, collecting enough donations to fill both an S.U.V and a van. The goods are destined for homeless shelters and non-profits in Marion and Cedar Rapids, including The Churches of Marion Food Pantry.

This week, Ungs plans to sort the donations and figure out which non-profits need them most. As helpers, she will enlist student members of a club at Bowman Woods Elementary called the P.R.I.D.E Club. 

Ungs’ contribution is part of a larger effort in Cedar Rapids and Shueyville to help homeless shelters and other organizations stock up for winter.

Cedar Rapids resident Rachel Hopp came up with the idea about two weeks ago, after an encounter with a homeless man. She posted it on Facebook, and “it went viral in no time,” she said.  

Hopp and Ungs met when Ungs dropped off a donation for Hopp in the early phases of the project. Now, Ungs is in charge of the Marion portion of the initiative. She welcomes anyone interested in donating, as well as any person or organization in need of donations, to contact her by email this week. Hopp encourages anyone seeking more information to contact her, as well.  

Ungs’ email address: aungs@linnmar.k12.ia.us

Hopp’s email and phone number: skiluvr56@yahoo.com, 319-540-0941