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Enon UMC Organizing Coat Drive PDF Print E-mail
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Wednesday, 04 August 2010 02:53

By Kate Seegraves

Staff Writer


Though the weather is sunny and warm now, fall and winter will soon bring blustery, chilly temperatures back to Ohio.

Volunteers at Enon United Methodist Church want to help local residents beat the cold with the church’s first-ever Coats of Love program, which seeks to provide Enon-area residents with clean, warm coats for the coming cooler months.



According to church member and program coordinator Mary-Ellen Lindsey, the Coats of Love initiative is the first of its kind to be organized in the Enon community. Similar programs take place in communities that are potentially inaccessible to Enon-area residents, she said.

“The closest free clothing facility is in New Carlisle,” Lindsey said. “There’s nothing in this area for that. We’re seeing an area of great need. A lot of people don’t have the transportation [to get to area free clothing facilities], or transportation is at a premium because they have to pay high gas prices. This is testing the waters to see the community’s response in giving and in receiving.”

While Lindsey and other Enon UMC members are in charge of Coats of Love, the Enon community has also pitched in with the program. Local businesses will provide fliers for their customers with program details, and the Enon Government Center and Enon Feed and Seed will operate as local drop-off points for coats through Sept. 11.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to has been very positive and upbeat,” Lindsey said of the community’s response. “They said they’re going to post fliers and promote Coats of Love amongst their employees or have a coat drive in their own business. It’s really encouraging.”

Lindsey says program organizers are requesting clean coats for babies through adult men and women, as well as clean hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. In addition to the running drop-off locations, Enon UMC will host two drop-off dates – from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 – at the church building, located at 85 Broadway Rd.

Once coats and other apparel items have been collected, Enon UMC will host several “shopping times” at the church. Shopping days are from 1-6 p.m. Sept. 13, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 14, 6-8 p.m. Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 18 and 1-6 p.m. Sept. 20.

While its mission is to distribute free coats, Lindsey stressed Coats of Love welcomes anyone to shop during the church’s distribution dates.

“These coats are freely given and will be freely received,” she said. “We’re sharing with each other. It’s not just giving so somebody can have something. We want people to feel comfortable. It is also a blessing to receive.”

For more information about Coats of Love, call Lindsey at 937-864-2085.
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