FORT HALL — Over 300 children received new winter coats last week thanks to Operation Warmth and Marathon Pipeline LLC.

The two organizations teamed up to provide coats to students from Fort Hall Elementary, Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy and the Shoshone-Bannock Early Childhood Program, according to a news release from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes Public Affairs.

The coat distribution was held on Thursday, Nov. 6. Children were able to choose their own coats, which gave them a joyful and meaningful experience. Michael Andrews, Senior Partnership Director for Operation Warmth, said in the news release the organization holds coat drives like this all over the country.

“We do a lot on tribal lands but also work with community-based organizations, Boys and Girls Clubs, Head Start Programs and Title I Elementary Schools,” Andrews said in the news release.

Marathon Pipeline LLC, which is a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum, has contributed nearly $1 million to Operation Warmth to help provide warmth and comfort to children and families nationwide.

V.J. Smith, Tribal Affairs Liaison for Marathon Petroleum, said in the news release that the company works with Operation Warmth because they provide coats in various styles and colors. Marathon Petroleum works with 23 tribal nations, and it is committed to investing in every community it operates in.

”We have a belief that we should invest in communities just for the sake of doing it, not for any other reason,” Smith said in the news release. “We provide grants in Indian Country for workforce development, sustainability, environmental conservation and what we call ‘thriving communities,’ events like this that simply help people.”

Smith and other members of the Marathon Petroleum team also participated in a Cultural Awareness Training earlier that day. It was hosted by the Fort Hall Business Council and Language & Culture Preservation Department.

”If we’re going to be partners in the communities where we operate on tribal lands, we need to ensure our employees understand each tribe, their priorities and how to respectfully work with them,” Smith said in the news release. “It’s a vital part of our partnership, and it’s awesome to be able to do that.”

Fort Hall Business Council Chairwoman Donna Thompson expressed gratitude for Operation Warmth and Marathon Petroleum for their commitment to the Fort Hall community.

”We appreciate Operation Warmth and Marathon Petroleum for showing up for our community and for all the years they’ve helped bring coats to our students,” Thompson said in the news release. “Our kids appreciate it.”