Scores turn out for winter coats and other clothing in Warren

WARREN

The Warren Salvation Army mobilized to provide coats, hats, gloves and other winter clothing at the agency on Franklin Street Southeast when it realized a possibly-record-breaking cold snap was coming this week.

About 18 families had received the items within the first half hour, and dozens of others were waiting in the agency’s lobby for their turn.

The items are being given away through 4 p.m. today.

The Salvation Army had a small collection of clothes already, but that was bolstered by a donation of 50 new coats and other items given by the Warren Rotary Club and Berk Enterprises on Thomas Road in Warren.

Other donations have also come into the center in recent days, said Capt. Dianna Morales of the Salvation Army.

“This was kind of a quick turnaround idea,” she said. “We’ve done this a few times, so we have an idea how to do it.

“We knew it was going to get really cold and we had some coats, so we got some more,” she said.

The people picking out items Monday morning said the help is greatly appreciated.

“Right now I’m separated from my husband for three months. I have nothing, so this helps,” one woman said. “When I left, I left pretty much with the clothes, and it wasn’t cold yet,” she said of why she had no cold-weather items.

“I’m not working, so being able to get coats is a blessing,” Kerrie Smith of Warren said as she collected some things Monday morning with her son.

“I just have a windbreaker, so I need a coat,” said Cindy Root of Warren. “I’ve had walking pneumonia the last three weeks, and I don’t have a car.”

Her friend, Susan Klinger, has a car, but it was recently involved in an accident.

Klinger said she’s been wearing the Cleveland Indians coat of her father, who died recently, but it’s worn out.

“She’s outside all the time shoveling snow and stuff,” Root said of her friend Susan.

At the Warren Family Mission’s 361 Elm Road location, coats, hats, pillow cases, pillows and other items are being given away at the noon lunch and 4 p.m. dinner, said Chuck McCorkle, manager of the facility.

The Family Mission also has a place where men can get temporary housing to get out of the cold, McCorkle said.

The men’s facility doesn’t have any regular beds available, but 30 to 40 cots are available, so 30 to 40 more men can be accommodated, McCorkle said.

There have been six people come to the shelter since Friday night, and seven other men have called asking if there’s room for them, he said.

The Family Mission doesn’t have any space for women or women with children, so they are referring them to the Beatitude House in Warren.