A warm touch -- the Coat Closet

Even though the weather has been warm and gorgeous these last few days, I can tell you that cold winter weather is on its way. I didn't learn this by reading the Farmer's Almanac, watching the Weather Channel, or observing how wooly the caterpillars were this fall. But by being a life-long Nebraskan, I can guarantee you that the cold, the sleet, and the snow aren't too far away.

To me, there's nothing worse than being cold and not able to warm yourself. I tend to get chilled easily, so most of my time each winter is spent shivering, putting on sweaters, and sneaking the thermostat up when my husband isn't looking. But for many area residents, there is nothing they can do to keep warm during the winter. Lack of money and resources prevents them from buying warm clothing or being able to adequately heat their homes.

About 23 years ago, local veterinarian and entre-preneur, Joe McGrath, started the Coat Closet. He asked local people to donate their used coats so that those without coats could have one. The program started slowly, but showed there was a definite need for warm clothing. After a few years, Lecia Potthoff and Barb Marquardt took over the Coat Closet and expanded it to include all types of warm clothing.

After several years of running the program, and seeing the amount of donations and needs increase exponentially, Lecia and Barb turned over the program to Barb Ostrum, area director for Mid Nebraska Services. For the last eight years, Barb and her army of volunteers have worked hard to make it bigger and better every winter.

The concept is simple. Area people are asked to donate their clean and gently used winter coats, gloves, sweaters, jeans, sweatshirts and scarves to the Coat Closet. Sizes from infant through adult are gladly accepted. Blankets are highly sought after since there is such a large need for them. The items are sorted and arranged and then offered to the public. Anyone needing these items is invited to come and take what they need. The only limits are two coats per adult and one coat per child.

Last year, more than 475 individuals came shopping at the Coat Closet to help outfit themselves and their families. That is a tremendous amount of people for this area who were able to pick up warm coats and clothing at no cost. Barb Ostrum told me that people are always so grateful and appreciate all that this program does for them. She says the generosity of people in southwest Nebraska wanting to help other people in southwest Nebraska is overwhelming. I'm sure it helps make all the hard work and effort worth it for her.

It takes a huge amount of work, and many volunteers, to make this project a success each year. Barb depends on about 45 to 50 people to help her set up the distribution center, organize and sort the clothing, and assist with the giveaway. She uses the talents of the Work Ethic Camp probationers, the SWATS workers, students from the LIFT and STEP programs, and any individual she can sign up to help her with this monumental task.

There are others who help behind the scenes. Several area women have lovingly made homemade baby blankets to help our littlest residents stay warm. Others give the gift of money to buy clothing and blankets for the Coat Closet. One anonymous donor gave $1,000 last year which was used to buy new coats and mittens in teen and pre-teen sizes.

One of the most helpful donations Barb has received was from Kent and Kirk Kilpatrick. These brothers paid for a storage unit this past year so that Barb could collect and store winter clothing and have a place to hold them before the Coat Closet opens. It's been an invaluable help and has added tremendously to the stock that the Closet will have on hand this week.

This year the Coat Closet will be located at the National Guard Armory at 404 West Seventh. Donations of coats, clothing, blankets, or money were accepted on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and can also be brought in Wednesday from 8 until noon or anytime during the giveaway times. If you are in need of any of these items, you are welcome to visit the Coat Closet on Wednesday from 1 to 6:30 p.m., on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 to noon. Volunteers will also be needed on Friday afternoon to help pack up the remaining items to send to the Lincoln Connection, which is a homeless shelter in North Platte.

A big thank you to Barb and all the volunteers and donors who make the Coat Closet such a huge success each winter. Please take the time to go through your home and find any jackets, scarves, hats, gloves, jeans, sweatshirts, blankets, etc. that someone else might be able to use this winter. It will help clean out your closets and bring a warm feeling to your soul. And if you could use any of these items, please come to the Armory and help yourself. They are there to help you fill this need.

There is another wonderful program, called "Share The Heat", which was started this year to help local residents keep warm during the cold winter months. The six area Lutheran churches in Hitchcock, Frontier, and Red Willow Counties raised almost $2,000 last week at a soup supper that will be matched by the Lutheran Aid Society, Thriven.

This money will go to assist families and individuals in crisis situations or who have a need for assistance with their utility bills and don't qualify for mainstream programs. All money raised is given away locally and overseen by a local board. To give money to this worthwhile venture, you can make checks out to "Share The Heat" and mail them to Nancy Frecks, RR3, Culbertson, Nebraska. To see if you qualify, please contact Nancy, or Barb Ostrum, or any of the local Lutheran ministers.