With winter approaching and cold weather becoming more prevalent, it’s good to see events like Bundle Up Butler taking place.

Held Friday at Memorial Park, the event provided warm winter coats for those in need, but also information and other services.

The Community Partnership and ANR Transportation handed out frozen hamburger or sausage and crocheted hats that were handmade by a donor; some booths provided candy, food or other items as well as brochures on their services; and everyone who registered for the event was given a $15 grocery store gift card.

More than 1,000 coats were available for distribution after being purchased by Butler’s Center for Community Resources (CCR) or donated by residents to collection boxes around the county.

Hayley Merchant, director of programs for CCR, said the donation boxes were overflowing this year.

“We had a tremendous outpouring of coats from the community this year,” she said. “It says that when someone is in need in Butler, their neighbor is going to step up and help them.”

This is great to hear, but not a surprise. Every week, the Eagle publishes stories about residents going out of their way to help those in need in the county.

The fact that they’re doing so now is especially important.

It’s an understatement to say that many people have struggled financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A report last month in Bloomberg found that poverty rose from a 60-year low during the pandemic, and that U.S. household income fell during that same time.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 7.8% of county residents live in poverty, but experts have noted that the federal poverty line doesn’t tell the real story. A 2019 report from the Social Security Administration found that as much as half of the U.S. workforce barely made enough to make ends meet.

This is why events like Bundle Up Butler — or other initiatives to help those in need in the county during the holiday season and throughout the year — are important.

Not only do they provide an immediate necessity — a warm coat for the winter — but they also enable attendees to meet with representatives from county services — such as the Lighthouse Foundation, Grapevine Center and the county Housing and Redevelopment Authority — who can provide information on how other needs can be met.

A lot of people continue to struggle due to COVID-19, and many faced poverty long before the pandemic. So, we’re glad to see county residents, organizations and businesses stepping in to lend a hand.

— NCD