SALTILLO | Area residents who are truly in need are encouraged to attend the annual clothing giveaway at the Saltillo Community Center. The event is sponsored by First Baptist Church of Saltillo.
A wide variety of clothing, everything from infant to adult sizes, will be available at the giveaway. It takes place Sept. 5, 2020, from 8-11 a.m.
There are a few changes for the event this year, however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those attending will be asked to maintain social distancing while in the community center, and protective gear will be required.
“We will be requiring everyone wear a face mask and gloves to be able to enter,” event organizer Cindy Buzan said. “We are encouraging that families find childcare due to having to practice social distancing. We understand that some people will not be able to do that. We don’t want that to deter them from coming.”
Every year the church provides a free meal during the clothing giveaway and while that is still the case, there is a change there, too. Previously that had been held at the church’s FREEdom Café mission center, but this year a sack lunch will be available as people leave the community center.
Giving and receiving
Through the annual clothing drive and free meal, Buzan said she and other FBC Saltillo members had received probably more of a blessing than those they had served, and being God’s hands and feet to His people.
“Every year that we do this giveaway, memories are made,” Buzan said. “Most of all lives are touched by the Lord. It is never about the church, the clothes, or the volunteers. It’s about God’s love being shown to His people. It’s about allowing the Lord to shine through our saved-by-grace bodies. Only Jesus can touch, love, heal, and forgive with the fullness of God.”
Buzan added that the annual event would not be possible if not for the work of many volunteers who work many days ahead of time, helping to sort and prepare the clothing the the meals.
“Each year we have wonderful volunteers that love the people and assist in finding clothes, and carrying them out to the cars,” she said. “That one-on-one time gives them opportunities to connect and share. You could talk to any of the volunteers and they would have a memory to share that impacted them. There are so many hurting people in our community, so many who just need to know they are not alone in their struggles. I love that we get to share hope with them. The hope that lies in Jesus!”
Buzan and others working the event know the events of this year will add an extra emphasis on the importance of helping the community.
“We are excited to see how God is going to use faithfulness and commitment from the church to spread help in the community at such a troubling time,” Buzan said.
