Syracuse, N.Y. — Students at Delaware Primary School in Syracuse left with smiles Thursday after picking out new hats and gloves during an annual winter giveaway.

The Wladis Hat and Gloves Foundation Inc. donated about 11,000 hats and gloves to students across the Syracuse City School District this year. It’s the 29th year for the hat and glove giveaway.

The effort began when founder George Wladis read a newspaper article about children at a Syracuse school who needed warm clothing. He bought 300 hats for that school and soon learned the need was more widespread.

Every December since 1996, Wladis has partnered with local companies to raise money to buy hats and gloves at a discount and deliver them to city schools. District employees sort the items each year, and students get to select

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