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Arlington Church of God collects coats for needy
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal
Published on Wednesday, Jan 09, 2008
Diane Lewis believes the annual Martin Luther King Day holiday is too significant to merely be a day ''off.''
Lewis wants it to be a day ''on'' in her mission to help people in the community.
That's why the associate minister and director of the We Care Outreach at Arlington Church of God is coordinating the collection of used coats, hats, hoodies and gloves to be given out Jan. 21 at the church's annual Warmth for Winter/Winter Wear Giveaway.
Lewis said the church traditionally has coordinated a clothing drive, but she altered the focus after reading recent stories about the surging rate of homelessness.
''In the winter time, we think of people being cold, especially veterans and families in transition,'' Lewis said.
''And when I read about all the problems people in this area are having, I thought that we needed to
be part of the solution. We can talk, talk, talk all we want, but the reality of the situation is we need to do something right now to help people stay warm.''
Lewis sent an e-mail to leaders at several area social agencies, such as Access to Care and Battered Women's Shelter, and area churches to get the word circulating.
''It works both ways,'' Lewis said. ''We wanted the agencies and churches to let people know we really need items that they aren't using anymore.
''We did at this time of the year because a lot of people get new coats, hats and other things for Christmas. We want the coats and hats that they aren't going to use anymore or that they have outgrown.
''We also wanted them to get the word out that there will be a giveaway of the things we've collected on Martin Luther King Day for individuals who are qualified.
''We came up with the idea, but our main purpose here at the church is to act as a connecting point. That's what we're here in the community for.''
Lewis said that more than 100 coats have been collected in the four weeks since she initiated the drive.
Lewis said the goal is to have 500 or more garments collected by the deadline at 5 p.m. Jan. 16.
''We're very optimistic that we'll reach that goal,'' Lewis said. ''We believe in all the great people in the community and we know they'll come through. And we know that people naturally will wait until the last minute to do things.''
Lewis said the time period from Jan. 16 to the three-hour giveaway Jan. 21 will be used to sort, size and label all the items and to put them on a display rack in the basement of the church at 539 S. Arlington St.
The giveaway is to run from at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 21 in the church's gym.
Lewis said there is only one rule at the Winter Wear Giveaway.
''One person, one coat,'' Lewis said.
She said that to receive a giveaway, a person must be present at the church.
''We'll have enough people who will act as eyes and ears that there shouldn't be any problems,'' Lewis said. ''We'll have several people who work at the area social-service agencies and they will help us figure out who's who and what's what.
''Our primary goal is to give warmth to everybody in the community who needs it.
''We recognize that one church or one agency alone can't do that in a community as large as Akron, but we want to be one piece of the puzzle that, when it all comes together, is a beautiful picture.''
noweb
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Diane Lewis believes the annual Martin Luther King Day holiday is too significant to merely be a day ''off.''
Lewis wants it to be a day ''on'' in her mission to help people in the community.
That's why the associate minister and director of the We Care Outreach at Arlington Church of God is coordinating the collection of used coats, hats, hoodies and gloves to be given out Jan. 21 at the church's annual Warmth for Winter/Winter Wear Giveaway.
Lewis said the church traditionally has coordinated a clothing drive, but she altered the focus after reading recent stories about the surging rate of homelessness.
''In the winter time, we think of people being cold, especially veterans and families in transition,'' Lewis said.
''And when I read about all the problems people in this area are having, I thought that we needed to
be part of the solution. We can talk, talk, talk all we want, but the reality of the situation is we need to do something right now to help people stay warm.''
Lewis sent an e-mail to leaders at several area social agencies, such as Access to Care and Battered Women's Shelter, and area churches to get the word circulating.
''It works both ways,'' Lewis said. ''We wanted the agencies and churches to let people know we really need items that they aren't using anymore.
''We did at this time of the year because a lot of people get new coats, hats and other things for Christmas. We want the coats and hats that they aren't going to use anymore or that they have outgrown.
''We also wanted them to get the word out that there will be a giveaway of the things we've collected on Martin Luther King Day for individuals who are qualified.
''We came up with the idea, but our main purpose here at the church is to act as a connecting point. That's what we're here in the community for.''
Lewis said that more than 100 coats have been collected in the four weeks since she initiated the drive.
Lewis said the goal is to have 500 or more garments collected by the deadline at 5 p.m. Jan. 16.
''We're very optimistic that we'll reach that goal,'' Lewis said. ''We believe in all the great people in the community and we know they'll come through. And we know that people naturally will wait until the last minute to do things.''
Lewis said the time period from Jan. 16 to the three-hour giveaway Jan. 21 will be used to sort, size and label all the items and to put them on a display rack in the basement of the church at 539 S. Arlington St.
The giveaway is to run from at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 21 in the church's gym.
Lewis said there is only one rule at the Winter Wear Giveaway.
''One person, one coat,'' Lewis said.
She said that to receive a giveaway, a person must be present at the church.
''We'll have enough people who will act as eyes and ears that there shouldn't be any problems,'' Lewis said. ''We'll have several people who work at the area social-service agencies and they will help us figure out who's who and what's what.
''Our primary goal is to give warmth to everybody in the community who needs it.
''We recognize that one church or one agency alone can't do that in a community as large as Akron, but we want to be one piece of the puzzle that, when it all comes together, is a beautiful picture.''
noweb
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 11:40 AM, 11/12/2008
How nice!
