Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Eliza (left) and Hazel Christensen check out some of the coats to be given away from the Clarendon Trinity United Methodist Church’s 12th annual Coat Closet.

Some decisions are too tough to make.

For going on 12 years, Clarendon Trinity United Methodist Church’s Coat Closet has been helping.

The Coat Closet keeps families from having to decide between buying winter clothing for their children and being able to pay for some other need.

“That’s one thing that they don’t have to worry about,” project committee member Jim Houghtling said. “That one’s covered.”

The program covers school-age children in the Sheffield attendance area and in Head Start.

It’s a win-win.

“Kids get the coats,” he said. “They go out of here with smiles from ear to ear.”

“We get the blessings,” he said. “Like so many other churches and organizations in our area, we are all reaching out to offer a helping hand as Christ has directed us.”

“It’s a real blessing,” Houghtling said. “We have about the same group working on it from the beginning.”

“We do have some community support,” he said. Without it, the church would be “hard pressed” to continue providing the program.

The church is expecting more blessings than ever this year. “The requests have been coming in this year unlike any year,” Houghtling said. “A lot of families are struggling to make ends meet.”

The church has received referrals and is ready with brand-new coats, hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves.

Years ago, the committee made the decision to provide only new outwear – nothing ‘gently used.’

“We’re going to give them new coats,” Houghtling said. “That’s what we want to do for our kids.”

If there weren’t coats appropriate to those who were referred, church members and community supporters, went out and bought the right thing.

“We are out buying coats online as well as in stores to make sure we have the right coat for each child,” Houghtling said.

The distribution event for those who were referred will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, in the church fellowship hall.

Anyone with questions about the program may contact the committee at (814) 723-1654.