With winter weather coming, a Franklin mother lined up with several other families for an annual event meant to help kids warm in the snow and cold.
Candice Bishop, a single mother with two children, was sitting down with her daughters on a path going around Turning Point Church on Friday afternoon. They had gotten to the church nearly an hour early for the United Way of Johnson County’s annual Operation Bundle Up event.
Bishop had to switch her schedule at work to find time in the day to come, but even with losing a couple of hours of pay, the opportunity to get winter clothing for her daughters was worth it.
Without the help from the United Way, she isn’t sure how she would pay for coats and other winter clothing for her children — ages 6 and 5, she said.
“It’s tremendous,” Bishop said. “That stuff is expensive.”
Since 2007, 11,000 coats have been collected to be given away to Johnson County families in need, and the majority are given out during the annual, one-day event. The rest are given to local organizations, such as the Community Ministry Center and Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Lord’s Locker and Human Services, to help families who may have been unable to attend the event, United Way of Johnson County Executive Director Nancy Lohr Plake said.
“If a family can’t make it, they will be able to go to those organizations and get a coat,” she said. “All the coats collected are put to good use.”
By proving the coats, families can spend their money on other essentials, such as rent, food and utility bills, she said.
A Greenwood woman said her family ended up in a tough financial situation after the birth of her daughter early this year.
Alyssa McKee had to be put on bed rest for several months after her daughter was born, lost her job and has been working to get her finances together. With three children, winter coats are a big expense, she said.
Five-year-old Ian Buck Elk was all smiles as his mother and a volunteer led him around, trying on several different coats. Getting clothing for her son can be a challenge, since he has sensory issues which make finding appropriate clothing difficult, Thea Trusty said.
The welcoming environment and helpful volunteers were just as appreciated as the winter clothing she was able to get for her son, she said.
“It says a lot about the community,” she said. “I’m taken aback by the kindness.”
Living on a fixed income with a special needs son makes setting aside money for added purchases, such as a new winter coat, challenging, Trusty said.
Jamie Hutton, a volunteer from Victory Center Christian Church, was helping Trusty and her son try on coats.
It was a situation she was well prepared for, as Hutton works with special needs students at Northwood Elementary School in Franklin. After helping him try on coats, she was able to keep him entertained at a table with crayons and coloring books.
Franklin College Vice President of Student Affairs Ellis Hall brought 16 freshman out to the event to volunteer.
“It helps them see the need in Johnson County,” he said.
Two students, Jordan Thomas and Keenan Bohall, were helping check families out after they were done getting coats, while other students worked as guides to assist families in finding the right items.
“I like being able to help out with the community,” Bohall said.
Nearly 900 coats were given away to 150 families on Friday. About 1,900 had been collected. Weather is often an indicator of how many people will show up to get coats, Plake said.
Not many people are thinking about winter clothing if they are still wearing shorts outside, she said.
Last year, about 1,500 coats were donated. This year, nearly 1,900 coats were ready for distribution. Plake attributed the increase to the efforts of volunteers and collection sites that did a good job promoting the donation opportunities, she said.
Families were required to show proof of residence in Johnson County and have their children with them so they could try the coats on, Plake said.
“It helps those families who are really living from paycheck to paycheck,” Plake said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Here is how many coats the United Way of Johnson County has collected and distributed for Operation Bundle Up the past five years. Coats not given out are taken to other local organizations who can give the items to families who need them.
Year;collected;distributed;families helped
2016;1880;887;150
2015;1522;988;171
2014;1743;1337;241
2013;1801;826;222
2012;1770;829;270
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