Vineyard Church Succeeds With 'Project Warm Coat'

For the past two weekends, The , which has locations in Lynbrook and Rockville Centre, held a very successful coat drive known as "Project Warm Coat," collecting more than 400 coats for needy local families.

"The response was overwhelming," said Rev. Steve Munson. "People were saying, 'I've got coats,' or 'My daughter's got coats,' or 'I'll tell my neighbors and friends.'"

Over the past two weekends — Nov. 6, Nov. 7, Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 — the church collected more than 300 coats, and there are 100 more on the way from a local Boy Scout troop. The first weekend's coats have already been distributed through the church's food pantry, which is located at its Rockville Centre location. The food pantry has been in existence for nearly 20 years, and currently helps feed about 150 families per week.   

"In working with the people in the food pantry we saw a need for winter coats," Munson said. "Some of these people are working full time but they just aren't able to make it. They're known as the working poor. They need warm coats this winter as well as their kids."
 
The church advertised the coat drive on Patch.com and Lynbrook TV, as well as distributing fliers throughout the community. During the drive, someone dropped off a man's suit. One man, who had been looking for a job for quite some time, later came into the church because he needed a suit for a job interview.

"He was distraught because he couldn't afford a suit," Munson said. "We told him to try this one on. It looked like it was tailor made for him."

And that wasn't the only time where the church was able to help someone in need.     

"A lady came into the church crying because she couldn't afford a winter coat," Munson said. "I told her the coats were coming. The person who was bringing the coats came. She saw a beautiful imitation leopard-skin coat. She grabbed it and went crying out the door. It's wonderful matching people with coats."

Munson said he is hoping the church will be able to hold the coat drive again next year. "We'd like to thank the wonderful people in the community who have been able to share with people that don't have as much," he  said.

The church is still accepting donations of coats at its Lynbrook campus, which is located at 180 Denton Drive.