This clothing giveaway helped JC church members 'build a bridge to our neighbors'

A young couple waiting for the bus in Johnson City shivered on a recent morning until Rodney Frost offered them scarves.

They smiled and thanked him as they wrapped the scarves around their neck. Frost was among a small group of members of the Johnson City Primitive Church who were giving out warm clothing on a cold day last month. The bus stops in front of the church.

“This church is one that’s always, always reaching out,” said Frost, who also serves as the church’s music minister.

For the past seven years, the church has been supporting a ministry called In My Father’s Kitchen in Syracuse, which helps homeless people. The church collected some hats and socks for the Syracuse ministry. But Frost and a friend, whose wife made some of the hats, started talking about whether their church could give away the items to local residents in need instead of taking the items to Syracuse.

The first event was held in December on the front lawn of the church with about 50 items of clothing given away. Before church members could get all the items out, people were already taking them. Everything was gone in a day.

In January, they added coats and pajamas to be given away. This time, they had approximately 200 items to give away from donations made by church members. Once again, everything was gone in a day, Frost said.

“It’s just kind of blossomed,” Frost said.

Many of the recipients live nearby. One man said he needed a hat. He got one from the church giveaway event and walked away happy and grateful, Frost said.

“You meet your neighbors,” Frost said. “It helps us build a bridge to our neighbors.”

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On a cold morning last month, church members put approximately 400 clothing items including scarves, hats, socks, coats, and blankets in plastic bags and hung them on clothesline in front of the church. Passersby, people waiting for the bus, and neighbors came by to take what they needed.

Events like these are important for churches to hold. This is a way to follow the commandments of Jesus, said the church’s pastor, the Rev. Don Kidd.

“It’s part of who we are,” he said. “The greatest commandment is love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Our love for God is reflected in how we love our neighbors. It’s a blessing.”

Kidd was among the church members who braved the cold and gave away items with a smile.

Church member Jean Ott also didn’t let the cold stop her from giving away items to people in need.

“The Lord led us to do this,” she said. “I think we helped a lot of people. There’s a lot of people who can’t get this stuff.”

With spring approaching, church members don’t plan on holding any more cold weather giveaways for a while. But they’re already gearing up for a back-to-school event in August where local children can get free backpacks and school supplies along with snow cones.

Ott has already done her part. She loaded up her car with more than 100 pairs of flip flops she bought for the event.

More about Johnson City Primitive Methodist Church

The Rev. Don Kidd serves as pastor of the church located at 4 Ackley Ave. in Johnson City. Sunday services are held at 9:30 a.m. For more information, go to jcpmchurch.com or find them on Facebook under Johnson City Primitive Methodist Church.

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This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: In Johnson City winter weather, church's clothing giveaway meets need