As Butler County braces for another round of below-freezing temperatures this weekend, area churches and organizations are coping with a greater demand for warm clothes.

Julie Schmeider of Butler, one of the co-chairmen in charge of Grace's Closet clothing bank at Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St., said, “We seem to be going through a lot of clothing this year.”

Schmeider said the clothing bank's clientele “seeks mostly warmer clothes. Our clientele can afford nothing. They are not looking for dress-up clothes.”

However, Sally McIntyre, director of BOAZ House, the food and clothing bank of Glade Run Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, for 30 years, said demand for clothing varies.

“You have to get the cold weather before people realize they need the stuff. They come in and they need coats and mittens and hats and stuff. We didn't have a real demand until the cold snap right before Christmas,” she said.

“Children's coats are most in demand because kids grow, and they grow out of their stuff,” said McIntyre.

Will the supply last to spring? McIntyre can't say, but “the Lord provides. We are low right now, but I wouldn't be surprised if a truck stops in with a load because that's the way it works.”

Lisa Gill of First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., said the church's Second Grace clothing bank has seen more people seeking clothing.

“The demand has been more. They had 80 people in one night. I think it is the hard economic times,” said Gill.

Dennis Slupe, the business manager of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, agreed.

“There's a bigger demand this year than there every was,” he said.

Slupe also blames economic conditions more than weather conditions.

“I think it is more the economy. We served a lot of people before the holidays in November and December,” said Slupe.

The society's store in the Greater Butler Mart is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and donations can be dropped off at the location at 226 Greater Butler mart.

Dave Tobiczyk, vice president of marketing and development for Goodwill of Southwestern Pa., which has a store at 370 New Castle Road, said, “This winter we have been fortunate to receive a lot of donations from the public and because of that the sales in our stores have been good as well.”

“We really try to keep our supply of clothing current. If you are donating in Butler, we sell most of the clothes in the Butler store.

“What does have to happen, especially in winter months, is we store up extra through December because donations in the winter slow down significantly. Last year was especial difficult for our stores because of the hard winter,” he said.

Goodwill of Southwestern Pa. doesn't give clothes away but sells them.

“Goodwill collects clothing and household items from the public and sells them in our stores. All that does is generate dollars for our mission to help train and education people to find jobs,” said Tobiczyk.

“We have a program where vouchers are available for people in need. However, most of our efforts are focused on generating revenue in our stores, so we can meet or mission of helping people find work,” he said.

Tobiczyk said all donated clothes find a use.

“We sort through clothes that are on the floor for several weeks,” he said. “First, they go back to our outlet store in Versailles where clothes are sold by the pound.

“Then we sell it as salvage or sold overseas or it's sold for recycling, refurbishing or industrial purposes. Almost every piece of clothing donated to Goodwill generates value,” he said.

• BOAZ House, food and clothing bank of Glade Run Church, 1091 Pittsburgh Road, Valencia, open noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays• Goodwill store, 370 New Castle Road, open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday• Grace's Closet, clothing bank of Grace@Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St., open 10 a.m. to noon, second and fourth Saturdays and 5 to 7 p.m. third Thursdays• Second Grace, clothing bank of First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., open 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays• St. Vincent de Paul Society store, 226 Greater Butler Mart, open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday