The winter got a little bit warmer for hundreds of families Thursday evening.
They came to Turning Point Church in Franklin, flipping through racks of winter coats during the annual Operation Bundle Up distribution. Participants tried on sleek ski jackets and sparkly parkas. They chose the perfect gloves, stocking hats and gloves for the upcoming cold weather.
At a time when families are struggling with higher costs on everything, Operation Bundle Up proved a blessing.
“It helps a lot. I have three kids that I have to have Thanksgiving and Christmas for. It’s Coats alone are $60, $70 apiece. I’m on disability, so it really does help,” said Amanda Quick.
More than 300 children, as well as their parents, were loaded up with winter weather gear during the annual coat distribution. Community members had donated 1,294 coats for the effort, ensuring that families had a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes to choose from.
The public’s support was critical at a time when so many Johnson County families are struggling, said Nancy Lohr Plake, executive director of the United Way of Johnson County.
“Our Johnson County community always comes through when we make the call-out, and they truly were able to really go through those closets, get us those donations, and then we had a few large donors who came in and said, ‘Here’s money for buying coats,’” she said. “They always come through.”
Operation Bundle Up is a yearly helping program that gets coats and other winter gear to needy families throughout the county. Hundreds of coats are distributed annually as part of the program.
Each November, the United Way gathers the community together to “shop” for various coats — although the distribution moved to a drive-through model in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Families, after registering for the event, come through and pick out the styles and sizes that best suit their children.
“When it’s 20 degrees outside, and 10 degrees below zero with wind chill, those kids need a coat,” Plake said.
To meet the need, coats are collected from throughout the county.
“For many of these families, with the increase in gas, with the increase in utility costs, they’re having to make hard decisions about paying their rent, paying their mortgage, paying for their car, paying their utilities. And those costs are going up, but their kids need coats,” Plake said. “For those families with four kids, this is a utility payment. This is two tanks of gas.”
Even before the distribution started on Thursday, a line of people had formed outside Turning Point Church. When it was their turn to enter, they were guided into the church’s gymnasium, where the coats were set up on dozens of different racks.
Warm coats with fleece-lined hoods and stylish fluorescent ski jackets were some of the styles available for boys, while girls could choose from shiny coats in pink, purple and silver. Older kids and adults had a variety of options, from sophisticated to sporty to rugged.
“It’s really important. It takes a lot of pressure off my back, keeping my kids warm. I have four, so it gets expensive,” said Samantha Combs of Franklin, who was getting coats and other items for her kids ages 13, 12, 7 and 2.
Families could also pick through tables and bins stocked with different hats, scarves and gloves.
“It’s very exciting, the kids love it. We’ve done it three years in a row,” said Allison Glore of Franklin. “It’s fun, with so many different styles and things they can pick out.”
