The coat giveaway at Mason community learning center Saturday was suppose to start at noon, but mother nature had other plans and East Principal Vyrone Finney decided to open the doors at 11:45a.m..

Fifteen minutes later; the coats were gone.

"We actually exceeded are number from last year and we actually have over 500 people here," Finney said. "We ran out of coats to pass out as you can see and alot of people are leaving home empty handed and I'm kind of upset about that."

The coat giveaway was able to provide more than 300 people with coats, Finney said.

Finney started the non-profit orgranization VAF Community Health and Wellness to help kids and families in need. He said its an honor to be able to help people in the community that helped raise him.

"It's a blessing to have an opportunity to give back, be an inspiration, be a role model and to be able to do something positive and productive for the kids."

Akron resident Janessa Jokela was excited to hear about Finney and what he was doing for the community. Jokela said she would have been lost if it wasn't for him and his efforts to donate coats to kids and families in need.

"We were excited because times are tough right now. I'm not working," Jokela said. " I'm glad something like this existed because I don't know what I would have done withoout it."

One of the many reasons Finney decided to help students get winter coats was because he noticed a number of his students wearing thin hoodies walking to school. He knew he had to do something about it.

"This year seeing kids coming to schools with little thin hoodies on, I knew it was a need for some thick coats because in the winter time it gets really really cold." He added, "alot of our kids live more than two miles away from the school, but if you live less than two miles you have to walk to school. If you live more than two miles, you have to ride the bus unless you are in high school; those kids just have to walk to school regardless."

Kimberly Mcintyre has four kids and was one of the many that came to the event unable to receive a coat. Mcintyre said although she's disappointed, people did leave the event happy and that's what she cares about.

"It was a good idea and he should continue having it," Mcintyre said. "Just because a couple of people are disappointed. A lot of people aren't. A lot of people can have clothes for their kids and that's the main thing."

Jokela says she thinks Finney is a great man and glad he did this for the community

"He is an amazing person and I am going to pray that God blesses him," Jokela said. "Something like this is huge and it does a lot for a lot of families. It's great and we appreciate him for it."

Finney and his non-profit will hold another coat giveway at Balch Street Fitness Center on November 14th.