Men, women and children facing bitter cold and homelessness in Grand Rapids Heartside District are getting help from Mel Trotter Ministries. Hundreds of free coats were given out earlier today.
“This is a warm coat… it’s nice enough.. it’s reversible I guess.”
Name, is shopping for a nice warm coat… and maybe a hat…
“Mary.. Which hat should I get?”
And so is her friend Mary..”
“Oh, I love it. My friend came by and said they’re giving out coats…and I said, Oh, I can get me a coat. Beautiful, that they do that, for the homeless and the people in the community.”
Tables full of hats and coats, from small to large fill a lower level room at Mel Trotter Ministries. It’s hosting its Heartside Community Coat Giveaway. It’s for those without a home… as well as those who are simply in need. Rhonda, once homeless is now a resident at Mel Trotter and one of the retail employees.
“I did not have a home before I came here. I did have a job, I was bouncing from place to place to survive and then I found home., Home is here? Home is here.”
More than 1250 coats were donated by the community then dry cleaned by Sheldon Cleaners and delivered to Mel Trotter. Vice President of Programs, Adriane Goodstal.
“Today, we’re probably going to give away more than 600 coats for men, women and children. Not just for guests here but for individuals in the community in need of a coat. So it’s been a blessing to be able to do that.”
Goodstal says any coats not given away today will be given to another rescue mission.
