A church in Tamaqua is making sure that members of the community are able to keep warm this winter.

St. John Lutheran Church in Tamaqua held their first independent coat drive last week. Those in need of a warm winter coat could stop by the church and pick up a coat completely free of charge.

The next coat drive will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Lutheran Church located on 200 E. Mauch Chunk St. The entrance to the event will be at the glass doors on Mauch Chunk Street.

In previous years, St. John assisted the Salvation Army with gathering coats, but with the Salvation Army’s recent changes they decided to host their own coat drive instead this year.

They received a great amount of donations from not only church members but also from people in the community. An estimated amount of 400 coats were donated, with some of them even being brand-new.

All coats have been ensured to be in good condition and come in a variety of sizes for both adults and children. People are also welcome to take free hats, gloves, mittens and scarves as well to go along with their coats.

Linda Heigele, one of the coat drive organizers as well as the church secretary, said, “We’re trying to reach the people who are really in need of a coat.”

Heigele hopes that the church can continuously build on this event as time goes on as well as potentially welcome members of the community to the church.

Those with questions can call the organizers at either 570-640-5261 or 570-778-3215.