Single mother Leslie Mull has one less worry as winter approaches.
Her family sometimes struggles on their own, but thanks to Operation Bundle Up, keeping her kids warm in the winter is taken care of.
Mull has brought her Franklin family to Operation Bundle Up, a program of the United Way of Johnson County, for five years. The program provides children with free new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and scarves that have been donated by the public in recent weeks. At the event, each child receives two coats, a hat, gloves and a scarf. Their parents receive a coat as well.
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“I know I can rely on them to have a coat for my kids and gloves and hats and scarves,” Mull said. “It’s a great help.”
“For some families, it means the difference between being able to get a coat or buying food,” Executive Director Nancy Lohr Plake said.
Money is tight for some families, including Danielle Smith of Franklin. She said Operation Bundle Up is a great service for families and their kids.
“I’m grateful that they have it here for everybody that has kids,” Smith said. “They help you out and they always have great selections.”
Donations are received by the general public or organizations such as churches and schools, Lohr Plake said. United Way received just more than 1,300 donations this year, and 180 families were served at the Operation Bundle Up event conducted Thursday at Turning Point Church. Last year, 153 families were served.
The line wrapped around the church as families waited in the cold for their new coats, some for the first time. New Whiteland resident Beth Smith said this was her first time attending the event. With her husband on disability, she needed to find her grandson a coat.
“We could find the money I’m sure if we had to, but if we can find a coat in here, it would be a lot easier on us,” she said.
Jennifer Doss of Franklin attends Operation Bundle Up regularly. This year, in addition to her two children, she has two foreign exchange students living with her, who did not have any winter coats.
She said the service helps out a lot with providing good coats that will last through the winter.
“It means we don’t have to choose the least expensive ones we find that really aren’t going to keep them warm,” Doss said.
Coats not taken during the event were given to the Lord’s Locker and the Impact Center at Mount Pleasant Christian Church. For anyone who could not attend and is still interested in receiving coats, call these locations at 317-878-7708 or 317-889-9650.
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Here is a look at how many people were helped at this year’s Operation Bundle-Up event.
1,338 items donated
180 families served
449 children served
233 adults served
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