Rev. Lou Whitmer, right, helps a family try on coats by the curbside giveaway. Photos courtesy of North Highland UMC.

North Highland United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, South Dakota, has held Coats for Kids & Other Folks, a coat giveaway, for the past 16 years. Each year the number of winter coats, hats, mittens, and gloves gathered has grown to meet the community's needs, and also due to the developing outreach work of the congregation. Three years ago, snow pants were added for elementary children, increasing the congregation's financial commitment.

Coats for Kids is typically a one-day event held in the fellowship hall. Coats are collected from around the community, and several are purchased to meet the demands. Many volunteer hours are spent sorting by size, inspecting each coat, and organizing. On the typical giveaway day, families come into the fellowship hall, and with the assistance of volunteers from the congregation, select the size that works best for each person.

This year everything seemed to collapse with the onset of the COVID-19 restrictions. Drop-off points were not available; there was no homecoming parade for the kick-off.

"The giveaway is important for the community, and just as importantly, it is a way for our congregation to live out our mission to love our neighbor," says Rev. Lou Whitmer, who serves North Highland UMC. "It looked like it wouldn't even be possible, and the Missions Committee was feeling both overwhelmed and exhausted by the fall. Following discernment, we decided to step out in faith and do our best to provide just coats for children and youth who were in school." 

Then, the Aberdeen Community Foundation provided a grant of $1,500, and the congregation stretched, reached out, and came up with an additional $3000, on top of the regular commitment, to purchase coats.

"We were very intentional to reach out where we felt there was the greatest need and set up an online registration, so we knew what was needed," said Whitmer. 

The effort received over 250 registrations for coats in two weeks and began purchasing and gathering coats. They were sorted, checked, and then organized by family units. 

Kristie Scherbenske, a Missions Committee member at North Highland UMC assists a family at the curbside coat giveaway.

Those who registered came to the church the morning of the giveaway, and the bagged coats were taken out and tried on by the curbside. 

"Everything looked and felt different, but it was still a very heartwarming event," noted Whitmer. "We are still getting requests for those who missed the information, and so far, we have been able to meet the needs."

Coats for Kids is one example of the passion that congregations across the Dakotas have to live out the mission to love God and neighbor, even amid a pandemic.

"It has been so wonderful to see our connection with community grow over the past few years," says Kristie Scherbenske, a Missions Committee member. 

"Everyone who received a coat was so grateful. It's all worth it when you hear a child shout 'Mom—it's new! I got a NEW coat,'" says Whitmer.