Franciscan Charities, a non-profit organization, along with St. Anne's Soup Kitchen holds their annual coat drive at St. Rocco's Church in Newark. Watch video
NEWARK-- People lined up outside of St. Rocco's Church in Newark early this morning, sipping hot chocolate and eating cookies as they waited for their turn to pick out a winter coat.
Franciscan Charities, a non-profit organization, along with St. Anne's Soup Kitchen holds their annual coat drive at St. Rocco's Church in Newark. The event is for families of the working poor.
About 60 volunteers were on hand to assist each client to find a coat, hat, scarf and pair of gloves.
Last year, more than 800 coats and winter accessories were distributed to children and adults.
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Kevin Lawlor, a board member of St. Anne's Soup Kitchen and coordinator of the coat drive said more than 1,500 coats were donated this year through local coat drives. From those, between 700 to 800 coats will be given to clients that attended this year's event. The rest will be will be given to neighboring churches for their coat drives to ensure that every coat is used.
Lawlor said he feels this event helps give back to the community.
"We know clients are leaving with a coat that will help keep them warm for the winter," he said. "It also helps their self-esteem, they feel empowered when they can go around and pick out a coat," he added.
This is the third year that Taneesha Berry, 30,has attended the coat drive. Berry a mother of three children ranging in age from one to 14 said her family helps support her children but cannot afford to support her.
Berry said she came to the event to pick out a coat, hat and scarf for herself. She said she feels this is an important event and needed by the community.
"If it wasn't for this event every year a lot of people in this community would go without coats," Berry said.
Patti Sapone may be reached at psapone@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @psapone. Find NJ.com on Facebook.