Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Jim Thorpe is having its annual clothing giveaway this weekend.

The giveaway began Thursday at the church, located at 319 South Ave., will continue until 7 tonight and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and then next week: Thursday, July 27 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Friday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Bonnie Hoffman explained that she started this ministry 25 years ago. Initially it was just a winter coat drive. The church gets donations from the Kids Closet Sale and the congregation. This year they had so many donations they didn’t even need to ask the public.

A couple hundred people attend the distribution each year.

Ann Royer of Jim Thorpe said she enjoys “the friendliness, great stuff and that it’s non- judgmental.”

Clothes are arranged by size for women, men and children. There’s even some books and jewelry to choose from.

Fifteen volunteers make up the core group who run the clothes closet. They help sort and fold in addition to having Irene Remmel as a personal shopper. Remmel has been a part of the ministry for 25 years and said, “The way the economy is now we’ve never had more need.”

Leftover clothes go to a church in Frackville that has a year-round clothes closet.