Members of Metropolitan Baptist Church opened their doors on Saturday for an afternoon clothing giveaway to help people stay warm this winter.

The public walked into the education department room to peruse racks and tables loaded with winter coats, jackets and other pieces of cold weather clothing.

Donations from church members and other community donors were collected over the past month, and more than a dozen people came by in the first hour, according to the Rev. Donald Everett, the youth pastor of education at Metropolitan Baptist.

Each person could pick out up to two different items, but Everett said that those with loved ones at home could grab more if need be.

“We want to bless as many people as we can,” he said.

Roslyn Miller, 71, got to pick out two different coats. She chose a nice, warm beige coat for everyday use, and another, greener coat for Sunday dresswear.

“It feels wonderful,” Miller said about the selection of free clothes. “It’s a blessing.”

The children of the Metropolitan Baptist Church Youth Ministry also served chips, cookies and juice for the people that came in. President Willie Harrell V, 15, and more than a dozen of his peers in the ministry were excited to help out the less fortunate.

“I think it’s good to give the homeless what they need and put smiles on their faces,” Willie said.

The winter giveaway was organized in conjunction with the church’s Polly Armstrong Missionary Circle to help local homeless stay warm this winter. Clothes that weren’t collected on Saturday were set aside for the Salvation Army or other local missions organizations in need of clothes to give out, according to Everett.

“At least they will have garments and protection wear and coats that will help them survive during the cold weather,” Everett said.

He said that the church’s mission is to nourish the bodies of those in need as well as their spirits, whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other time of the year, because Christ’s message is all about giving.

“This is just a small snapshot of what we do to minister to the public, and to show them who Christ is through us,” he said.