MANSFIELD — The Mansfield Noon Optimist Club brought in more than 400 coats and cold-weather items to Grace Episcopal Church on Thursday.
Altrusa International of Mansfield and Ashley HomeStores also supported the Coats for Kids drive, which includes coats and cold-weather gear for children and families in need.
The club has hosted its annual coat drive for 15 years, said coat drive organizer Tom Conn.
“The first year, we got maybe 120 coats, and our goal is to grow that each year,” he said. “Altrusa and Ashley HomeStores have been partners for quite a while now and we couldn’t do that without their support.”
Linda Bender, an Altrusa member and member of Grace Episcopal Church, said the club has collaborated on the Coats for Kids drive for about five years.
“Anything we can do to give back to the community is important,” she said. “I know the food pantry guests really appreciate it.
“It started as a kids’ coats drive, but we have some adult sizes here as well, and some blankets.”
Cindy Titus, human resources and community events manager for Ashley HomeStores of central Ohio, said the Ashley team brought coats, sweatshirts and other cold-weather gear.
“These are from all of our stores in central Ohio, so that includes Ontario, Marion and Bellefontaine,” she said. “Some of them were from our employees, and we had some from customers and community members as well.”
The church’s open hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Located at 41 Bowman Street, Grace Episcopal also runs a food bank every Thursday, as well as the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of each month.
Eleanor Dixon-Wade, a Grace Episcopal member, said anyone who comes to the secretary’s office during open hours can get a coat. The church usually has the coats available between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Grace Episcopal will also accept donations from community members who want to donate coats, hats and gloves.
