<p><strong><em>O</em></strong>n a chilly November afternoon, adults and children lined up outside of Turning Point Church in Franklin.</p>
<p>They had come in search of winter coats, gloves, hats and other cold-weather gear during Operation Bundle Up. Once the doors of church opened, a flurry of activity unfolded.</p>
<p>Parents found the right sizes and tried them on their children. Kids excitedly pointed to pastel fleeces, brightly colored stocking hats or sparkly gloves. Everyone left with full baskets or overflowing bags.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]Click here to purchase photos from this gallery
<p>“We just don’t have a whole lot of money right now. And these things are very expensive,” said Alicia Holland, who had come with her daughter. “Even at the lower-end stores, (coats) are more expensive. Being close to Christmastime, it’s just too much. We tried going to the Goodwills and stuff, but we couldn’t find anything.”</p>
<p>More than 1,000 coats were distributed on Thursday evening, with 178 families receiving help for the coming winter. Operation Bundle Up, organized annually by the United Way of Johnson County, brought nearly 400 people to Franklin in search of assistance.</p>
<p>Winter coats and other accessories are expensive; no one should have to endure the cold this winter, said Nancy Plake, executive director of the United Way of Johnson County.</p>
<p>“We feel like those that really need the coats should get them,” she said.</p>
<p>Racks and racks of coats filled the gym at Turning Point Church, of all sizes, colors and styles. People could browse through items for infants, young girls and boys, and teens. Special sections had been set up for men and women to look for coats as well.</p>
<p>Tables were overflowing with woolly hats and warm gloves. Scarves were draped over a stand.</p>
<p>Participants were free to look on their own, and dozens of volunteers were available to help them find what they needed, try the items on or just hold the things they liked.</p>
<p>Colton Hounshell, 11 and Chandler Hounshell, 9, stood over a table of hats and gloves, searching for the perfect ones. Colton had found a festive reindeer hat to keep his head warm, while Chandler opted for a camo-inspired white, green and brown one.</p>
<p>“I thought about taking that one, but he got to it first,” Chandler said.</p>
<p>They had come with their mother, Tiffany Swank, to gear up for colder weather.</p>
<p>“Right now I’m struggling. I’m raising my two grandbabies and my three boys, so this definitely helps out,” she said.</p>
<p>The United Way of Johnson County has been hosting Operation Bundle Up since 2002.</p>
<p>Over the past month, the organization has been collecting new and gently used coats to give out to people. All of the used coats were cleaned by Milto Cleaners, which provides the service for free. Then the week of the distribution, volunteers set up all of the items so people can find the ones that fit them best.</p>
<p>Last year, 857 coats were distributed to 180 families.</p>
<p>Operation Bundle Up is open to any Johnson County resident, with proof of identification indicating that they do live in the county. People are also encouraged to bring their children along so they can be sure to get the right size coat, Plake said.</p>
<p>Tables set up with crayons and coloring pages allowed children to entertain themselves with a parent while another went searching for their own coats.</p>
<p>“It is a family event,” she said.</p>
<p>Angel Harrell had been bringing her family to Operation Bundle Up for the past few years. The Greenwood resident appreciated the chance to get good, quality coats at a time when any help is welcome.</p>
<p>She also tries to use the assistance her family receives and pay it forward down the line.</p>
<p>“Whenever he grows out of his things, I donate them again if they’re in good condition,” she said. “So he’s giving back, and getting one.”</p>
<p>Coats that were not distributed Thursday are passed on to other community social agencies — the IMPACT Center at Mt. Pleasant Christian Church, and the Lord’s Locker in Trafalgar.</p>
<p>“That way, if someone couldn’t come tonight, we can tell them where they can still get a coat,” Plake said.</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="By the numbers" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>Operation Bundle Up</p>
<p>2019</p>
<p>Coats collected: 1,559</p>
<p>Coats distributed: 1,018</p>
<p>Adults served: 217</p>
<p>Children served: 430</p>
<p>Families served: 178</p>
<p>2018</p>
<p>Coats collected: 1,338</p>
<p>Coats distributed: 857</p>
<p>Adults served: 233</p>
<p>Children served: 449</p>
<p>Families served: 180</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
