Churches to collect coats for the needy
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on November 3, 2014 1:46 PM
It started with a Sunday school class that wanted to serve the homeless.
But since its inception, the county's annual Warm the World event has served hundreds of local residents in need.
And Saturday, at both the First Baptist Church in Goldsboro and its counterpart in Mount Olive, coats, blankets and other items will be available for those who might have a much colder winter without them.
In Goldsboro, the event will begin at 8 a.m. and in Mount Olive, it will run from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.
"One of our Sunday school classes started Warm the World," said Sherry Archibald, women's missionary union director in Goldsboro. "They wanted to serve the homeless. It was a small event that first year and just the class did it. The second year, another class participated. The following year, it was up to something amazing and more people participated.
"Their idea was to help the homeless, not realizing they would be helping families, too, who are not homeless, but who are in such great need. You don't have to be homeless for things to be difficult."
Last year, more than 300 people went to Warm the World in Goldsboro, Mrs. Archibald said.
But the event is more than a chance to get some winter clothing.
Church members -- and local businesses -- also provide a hot meal.
"When guests come to the church, they'll come in the fellowship hall door into the fellowship hall, and we'll have food ready to go so they get their food and have a seat to eat it," Mrs. Archibald said. "And we, as a congregation and church family, sit with them and get to know them. We eat and talk with them. Usually we're just talking about life, what's going on, Thanksgiving coming up, the holidays. And as soon as someone is comfortable, they'll usually share with us what their needs are."
After eating breakfast and joining in prayer, those attending are taken into the church gym.
"It's packed with items," Mrs. Archibald said. "We ask them to take only what they need so we'll have enough for all our friends that day. It hasn't been a problem in the past; most people get just what they need and no more."
They can shop for blankets, coats, hats, scarves, gloves and even undergarments. Most of the items have been donated, but all of the underwear is new.
"People normally think of people needing these things because they are homeless, but we've found that a lot of folks who come to the event have a home, but they don't have enough heat and they don't have a lot of blankets when it gets really cold at night," Mrs. Archibald said.
After picking out their items, those attending can go back for more food. There are also tables filled with information on community resources.
And everyone gets a Bible.
"One of my favorite things to see is when the little kids are leaving and they get a Bible," Mrs. Archibald said. "They are so excited. Some of them have never had one. They're so excited that it's their very own."