Teen Pageant Winner Gives Back: Sponsors 4th Annual Coat Drive In Montclair

Over the past three years, teen beauty pageant winner Cianna Winkler has helped to round up more than 1,000 coats.

This autumn, you can help her pad that total.

Cianna Winkler, a sophomore at Verona High School, has announced that for the fourth year, she will put her efforts behind a coat drive to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry in Montclair.

According to her mother, Beverly Winkler, the Essex County community has donated over 1,000 coats since Winkler began her efforts, and the pantry distributed them within 48 hours.

With weather projections for this winter being similar to last winter, these coats are desperately needed locally, Winkler said.

In addition to clean, gently-used winter coats, hats and gloves are needed, Winkler said.

The Verona Community Center (880 Bloomfield Avenue) and First Presbyterian Church of Verona (10 Fairview Avenue) will act as drop-off points until Monday, Nov. 30. The church is also collecting non-perishable groceries to drop off weekly at the Human Needs Food Pantry.

According to Beverly Winkler, Cianna has received the Presidential Volunteerism Award at the Gold level in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Cianna and her family are also founding members of the Sunday Supper Program for those in need sponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Verona.

This past August, Winkler was crowned in the Miss America Organization as Miss Coastal Shore’s Outstanding Teen 2016. She will compete in the state competition to represent New Jersey in January.

Winkler is a sophomore at Verona High School, where she is also on the cross country and track teams, is a peer leader and a member of the chorus.

Photo courtesy of Beverly Winkler