Lorie Shreckengost, intellectual disabilities support coordinator for the Center for Community Resources, keeps the coat racks full Tuesday during the Bundle up Butler event.

Ramona Parsons picked a blue and green child puffer coat off a clothing rack on Tuesday.

“I like that my kids can come and they can pick coats that they like,” said Parsons of Butler. “And, it helps me out pocket wise.”

About 2,500 coats in different colors, shapes and sizes filled Cubs Hall, 113 S. McKean St., for Bundle Up Butler, an event sponsored by the Center for Community Resources that distributes free winter coats to children.

Adult coats were available for a suggested $5 donation. Prepackaged hats, gloves and scarves were also available.

Parsons looked for five coats for each of her children aged 16, 15, 13, 11 and 3.

Every other year, the family attends Bundle Up Butler and finds sizes up for their selections, she said.

When her children grow out of the coats, Parsons donates them to give back to the community, she said.

“I love the program,” she said. “It's wonderful.”

Thirty-five volunteers acted as personal shoppers for residents to find the right coat, which was a new feature this year, said Jean Bowen, vita coordinator and program specialist.

“It gets better every year,” Bowen said.

The venue change offered shelter from the weather as opposed to its previous location outside at the Butler City Farm Market, she said.Clothing racks instead of tables helped the traffic flow, she said.“This is more like a shopping event now,” she said.Last year, 601 people benefitted from the event. This year, as many if not more people would benefit because the line was out the door at 9 a.m., she said.Coats are collected through drives by churches, school and businesses.A majority of the coats are new because of sponsor donations and monetary collections, Bowen said.“We clothe anyone who needs a coat,” Bowen said.Call the Center For Community Resources at 724-431-0095 to register for children coats.“I love seeing the little kid who doesn't have a coat,” Bowen said. “Seeing that smile on their face — there's nothing better.“It's a very happy day for all of us because we get to help people who might not have a winter coat.”

Service coordinators Tori Hesidence, left, and Barb Sarvey for the Center for Community Resources inspect and sort coats before giving them away during the Bundle up Butler Event.

The Center for Cmmunity Resources gave away free winter coats to children Tuesday, Oct. 29.