Group offers free coats for people in need

With this week’s arctic temperatures, nothing is more welcome than a warm coat.

Overcomer’s Outreach Ministries wants everyone in the community who needs a coat to have one. It has more than 1,000 coats to give away.

“Volunteers have been working on this for quite some time now,” said Caleb Crull, an Overcomer’s volunteer. “It’s going to be a great deal for everyone.

“I’ve seen some of these coats, and they’re beautiful. It’s not junk that people have thrown out.”

Overcomer’s Outreach Ministries is a nonprofit organization that offers self-help classes, Bible studies and support services. It operates with community donations and volunteers.

Crull said the program has been helping out in the West Central neighborhood for more than a year, feeding people every Monday night, giving out free bread and offering assistance to families that need help.

Lori Stotts planned the coat giveaway. The coats, which were donated to the group, are organized by size, with coats for everyone – infants through adults, and men and women.

“We have tons of coats, and we want to give them to the community while it’s cold out. We’re giving one per person,” said Stotts.

Overcomer’s Outreach has purchased the building at 1804 W. BroadwayAve., where the coats will be distributed. It plans to open a food bank and thrift shop there in February or March.

“Someone donated the coats to us,” Stotts said.

“We don’t want to sell them. We just want to give them to the community, to people that need them.”

The group also helps the community through school supply and backpack drives, litter pickup, speaking events and a homework club and offers children and teens a Christ-centered hangout.