This winter will be a little warmer for 450 people thanks to the generosity of a few parishioners in Spotsylvania.

Pam Mills and her parents, Judy and Michael March, parishioners at St. Matthew Parish in Spotsylvania, decided last spring to collect coats for those in need. When the weather turned warm, and people began putting winter clothes in storage, they asked members of St. Matthew Parish, St. Mary Parish in Fredericksburg and other local churches as well as members of the community to consider donating coats that they no longer needed.

Several deliveries have been made and coats have been given to a homeless shelter in Fredericksburg, Catholic Charities in Arlington and Partners in New Hope, the diocese’s relief effort for people displaced to our area because of Hurricane Katrina. Seventy-five coats were distributed to evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. A drop-off is scheduled for the Salvation Army in December.

"It was absolutely overwhelming — that level of generosity and consideration," said Dawn Kuras, evacuee relief coordinator for Partners in New Hope. Kuras was excited to "see that level of eagerness to help. Their energy and desire to help others was so apparent. We are fortunate."

Partners in New Hope is currently working with familes from the Gulf Coast now living in the diocese.

Mills and her parents said they wanted to get everyone involved in their effort so they approached St. Mary Parish and organizations within the parishes. Several teenaged confirmandi helped with the coat drive and with distribution. Marcy Mason, a youth from St. Matthew, collected more than 50 coats in her neighborhood.

This was the first time the March family attempted this project. "We got a great response from it," Mills said. "The coats just kept on coming."

Local charities that still need coats this winter include the Christ House thrift shop and the Office of Refugee Services. Contact Christ House in Alexandria at 703/549-8644 and Refugee Services at 703/524-2154. To offer help to Partners in New Hope, contact your parish or Kuras at 703/841-3891 or dkuras@arlingtonrefugeeservices.com.