Despite effects of online market, Coat Closet benefits 875 people, 273 households

Barb Ostrum, who coordinates McCook’s annual “Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Giveaway,” is concerned about the future of the event as donations of coats and the number of shoppers decreases.

Connie Jo Discoe/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — As the “Coat Closet” giveaway closed last week, the weather turned colder and has stayed that way for most of the week.

Coat Closet coordinator Barb Ostrum and her volunteers can take comfort knowing that about 875 people in 273 households are prepared for a Nebraska winter because they picked out coats and winter clothing at the annual “Coat Closet and Winter Clothing Giveaway.”

However — Barb’s disillusioned a bit because she’s never clothed fewer than 1,000 people at the yearly two-day clothing giveaway.

And, she said, fewer coats — especially kids’ coats and warm clothes — were donated than in previous years. “We had one table of girls’ clothing, and another of boys’. We’ve had rows of tables of girls’ and boys’ clothing in the past,” Barb said.

Barb knows that these disparities are a sign of the times, a change she started noticing a couple years ago. “I get it,” she said. “I understand that parents can sell their kids’ gently-used coats through online sale sites, rather than donating them to the Coat Closet, and that they can also buy gently-used coats on line.”

Barb doesn’t fault these young parents — these millennials who have grown up with digital technology and are tech savvy enough to clothes their children that way. “After all, getting kids in coats, that’s my goal,” she said.

This change, in particular, just means that coordinators of community events like the Coat Closet need to make adjustments to fit the times, Barb feels. “If the community wants to keep these services going, there need to be community conversations,” Barb said. Contact her, (308) 345-1187, with ideas and/or comments.

Barb’s philosophical about it. Even traditions — like the Coat Closet — can change, morph as necessary with the times, she said. “It’s time to look at something different.’Something different’ isn’t necessarily bad — it could be what makes this program a longer-lasting event,” she said.

Another concern Barb has is that her corps of regular, all-day every-day, volunteers seems to be aging. “The youngest is 62, the oldest is 82,” she said. A perennial volunteer, Jim Sailors, “the youngster” in the bunch, passed away in July. He was 54 years old.

“My volunteers are amazing,” she said, but she would like to involve a younger set as well — interpret as “stronger,” with big hearts but maybe fewer or less acute joint challenges. “Without volunteers, this program could not exist,” Barb said.

Along with her volunteers, Barb said, the Coat Closet (and the Toy Box as well) wouldn’t be the same without her very generous anonymous benefactor, and groups such as the Work Ethic Camp, McCook Public Schools classes, McCook Community College teams and classes, and McCook businesses and banks.

Margaret Trail Nielsen of Lexington, formerly of McCook, really outdid herself this year, Barb said, donating 250 crocheted stocking caps. “Margaret is absolutely amazing,” Barb said.

“And I really appreciate the support of the City of McCook. Memorial Auditorium is the perfect venue for both the Coat Closet and the Toy Box,” Barb said.

After donating some left-over coats to a men’s mission in Denver and some clothing to “The Sharing Place” at McCook Christian Church, Barb has some kids’ coats available at her office, the McCook office of Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska, in downtown McCook. Call her first at (308) 345-1187.