The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 26, 2009

Sophia Free Will Baptist Church organizes coat drive, giveaway

By Courtney D. Clark

Sophia Free Will Baptist Church is going to make sure everyone stays warm this winter.

With snow in the forecast, it looks like it is time to pull out your winter coat or pick one up from the bingo hall in Sophia on Saturday.

Matthew Mills, a member of the church, says the idea for a coat drive came from his pastor, Bobby Carter.

“We just started announcing it in our church at the end of services and asking people for coats they weren’t using or didn’t need,” Mills said.

“As I started talking to people about it, I met Don McCallister from Beckley, who was able to help us out with over 100 coats he had left over from a drive. It really took off from there.”

Mills said the church is grateful to Don Kelly, pastor at Open Door Church in Shady Spring, for donating coats as well, and the Sophia Fire Department for loaning the building free of charge for the day.

“We plan to have approximately 300 coats to give away Saturday,” he added, “including children’s coats, and coats for teens and adults. We’ll have a coat in every size and a coat for anyone who needs one.

“These coats aren’t here to hoard up or hang on to. We want to get rid of them and help the people in Sophia and surrounding areas. The Bible tells us this is what we are supposed to do, so we want to meet the needs of these people.”

If you need a coat, come get one, Mills says. Likewise, if you have too many coats, get rid of one.

“If people want to donate a coat — or a few — bring them to the bingo hall Saturday, and we will be happy to see they get to where they are needed,” he said.

The coat giveaway will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the bingo hall is located on Main Street beside the fire department.

For more information, call Mills at 304-575-5492.

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