News Releases

Over 700 Winter Clothing Items Given to Those Less Fortunate Thanks to Owens Diagnostic Medical Sonography Faculty and Students

Owens Diagnostic Medical Sonography instructors (L to R) Kristy Lewandowski of Perrysburg, Susan Perry of Woodville and Heather Duval-Foote of Waterville pose for a photo in front of donated winter clothing.

PERRYSBURG TOWNSHIP, Ohio – Over 700 winter clothing items recently found their way into the arms of those less fortunate in the Toledo area thanks to the efforts of Owens Community College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography faculty and students.

Hundreds of coats as well as winter clothing items ranging from hats to scarves were distributed to needy individuals in downtown Toledo as part of the community outreach initiative titled “Susie’s Coats”, which is named in honor of Owens Associate Professor of Sonography Susan Perry of Woodville. Now in its fifth year, “Susie’s Coats” has provided over 1,500 winter clothing items to people in the Toledo area.

“The whole initiative began when I celebrated my 50th birthday five years ago,” explained Perry. “My family asked what I wanted for my birthday, which is Dec. 1, and I told them that I am blessed to have everything that I could ever want or need in my life. For that reason, I told my family that I wanted to help others and ‘Susie’s Coats’ became a reality.”

In addition to becoming a family affair, the “Susie’s Coats” initiative has spread to the College’s Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program and involves Owens faculty and students.

“The student’s ability to work directly with those less fortunate has a profound, positive impact on their lives,” said Perry. “Sonography is a health career that involves working directly with patients and their families. This experience enables the students to learn about being mindful of their responsibility to the communities that they serve.”

Also assisting the Owens group with the distribution efforts was Toledo Harley-Davidson in Toledo, which donated a trailer to transport and disseminate the clothing items.

Owens Community College is an accredited two-year, state-assisted institution of higher education that has served Northwest Ohio since 1965. With a commitment to providing small classes, personal attention and unmatched affordability, the College serves the diverse academic needs of credit and non-credit students on the Toledo-area and Findlay-area campuses, as well as at the Arrowhead Park Learning Center in Maumee and the Learning Center at The Source in downtown Toledo. Owens offers associate degrees that transfer to baccalaureate degrees in the Arts and Sciences and over 130 technical program areas in Agriculture, Business, Health Sciences, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Skilled Trades, and Engineering and Transportation Technologies. Owens students also can earn the first two years of a bachelor’s degree with a smooth transfer to any area four-year college or university. For more information, visit www.owens.edu.