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BLOOMFIELD, IOWA -- Employees at Davis County Hospital have formed a committee with the goal to give back to the community.

Once a quarter, the Make a Difference committee will hold a fundraiser or event that benefits local children, organizations or schools.

Last quarter, they raised $870 for the I Care program and in late September, organized a coat drive that brought in over 300 donations. The hospital hosted a day where anyone in need could come in and pick up a coat, and over 200 were given out.

The remaining coats will be distributed to schools, SIEDA and the Crisis Center in Ottumwa, and the committee is already looking towards their next project.

"The next project the make a difference committee is going to work on is called backpack buddies and it's through the school and kids receive a backpack on Friday to take home for extra food for over the weekend," said Kathy Scott, of Davis County Hospital. "Our goal is to raise money and/or food to help towards that project."

If anyone would like to donate to the Backpack Buddies program, Scott said you can bring food or money donations to the hospital or to Keith's Foods in Bloomfield.