Bundle Up Butler provides coats, access to services
County residents in need not only received warm winter coats, but also information and access to services at Bundle Up Butler, which was held Friday at Memorial Park in Butler.
Cars began lining up at 8:15 a.m. for the event's 10 a.m. start, when vehicles could be seen snaking past the tennis and bocce courts and leading up to the Miller Shelter.
Hayley Merchant, director of programs at the Center for Community Resources (CCR) in Butler, said each person picking up coats registered for the event.
Upon their arrival at the park, a volunteer in a Halloween costume placed a large number on their windshield, which was matched with the corresponding number on a bag at the Miller Shelter that contained the coats they requested.
The event was traditionally held at the Butler City Farm Market on Chestnut Street, where those receiving coats and their children could select and try on their favorites.
But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event has been held in a drive-up format where coats are preselected by volunteers and bagged.
Hand-lettered signs with inspirational messages lined the route to the Miller Shelter, including “Every day is a chance to do better,” “Be the change you wish to see” and “Ride the waves. You got this!”
Several booths were set up by service organizations just short of the shelter, allowing those receiving coats to pull up and get information.
The county Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Bridging Recovery, the Lighthouse Foundation, the Grapevine Center, several CCR booths and other services spoke to drivers as they passed on the way to retrieve their bag of winter coats.
Some booths gave out candy, food or other items along with brochures detailing their services.
The Community Action Partnership gave out frozen hamburger or sausage and colorful crocheted hats that were handmade by a donor.
Devin Cunningham, project coordinator at CCR, said 161 people registered to receive coats for themselves and their families, and extra coats were on hand for those who did not register.
Cunningham said more than 1,000 coats were available for distribution on Friday.
After drivers received their black bag containing their family's coats, more service booths were available in the upper parking lot on the way out.
In addition, everyone who registered received a $15 grocery store gift card.
Merchant said while many winter coats were purchased by CCR for the event, the collection boxes around the county overflowed this year with coats purchased and donated by regular citizens.
“We had a tremendous outpouring of coats from the community this year,” Merchant said. “It says that when someone is in need in Butler, their neighbor is going to step up and help them.”
She said many businesses and organizations held coat drives for Bundle Up Butler as well.
Although the event ended at 3 p.m. after the walk-up clients retrieved their coats, Merchant said more than 3,500 coats are handed out by CCR each winter.
“Bundle Up Butler doesn't end today,” she said.
She was glad to see the line of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs in Memorial Park on Friday.
“It's nice to see enthusiasm from the community members because it's more than just a coat when they come here,” Merchant said.
She deemed the 2021 Bundle Up Butler event a success.
“It's why we're here in this community, to serve our neighbors in need,” Merchant said.
