Tables stretching two-thirds of the length of the Butler City Farm Market struggled under the weight of mountains of winter coats of every size, style and thickness on Friday as those who might have otherwise shivered this winter delightedly made their selections.

More than 250 disadvantaged individuals were lined up at the doors when the ninth annual Bundle Up Butler began at 10 a.m., said project coordinator Jean Bowen.

Bundle Up Butler saw disadvantaged people from tots in strollers to the elderly search through more than 2,500 new and gently used coats, hats and gloves with a program volunteer, who served as their personal shopping assistant.

Each client who arrived at the event received an extra large shopping bag donated by Boscov’s as well as a chance to win a gift basket.

Bowen said more than 500 coats were given away in the first two hours of the event

The coats are collected through donation drives at churches and schools, as well as through individual donors.

This is an excerpt — read more about the event in Sunday’s Butler Eagle.