At our house, one of the traditions of the fall season is to shuffle our stuff about: wool sweaters are moved out of the cedar chest, while shorts and t-shirts go back into hiding. Flip-flops are placed in boxes; rubber boots are pulled out. You get the picture.

Lurking amid the bathing suits however, are all those extras we inexplicably hold onto: the business suits I no longer need, the roller blades last used before the kids were born (the “baby” is now in second grade), the rain slicker that never quite fits. It is an embarrassment of riches.

Luckily our household’s reorganization coincides with another tradition, that of Bethany’s Coat Drive. Each November, Bethany gives out warm/waterproof coats to Wednesday Night Dinner guests—some of whom have made a habit of coming to Bethany one time each year to obtain much needed warmth for the coming winter.

Coats will be made available to recipients on November 19 th. Boxes for donations are located in the Bethany lobby; the greatest need is for XXXL and XXXXL coats and
waterproof jackets. Please note however, that clean coats in all sizes are gratefully accepted. Any coat not finding a home on November 19th will be brought to City Team Ministries; no donation will go unused.

The WND team is also collecting hotel-size toiletries for distribution: shavers, toothbrushes and toothpaste are particularly desired. Bethany cannot dispense any over-the-counter medications (no aspirin, no antihistamines) but cough drops are appreciated. Again, this gift of toiletries has become a tradition with the people we serve; please consider sharing some of your own seasonal shuffle with others this fall.