Helping someone else

St. Mark’s coat drive will provide warmth to those in need

Mary Kay Daniel, the longtime member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, poses with recently donated coats for the church’s annual coat drive. Coats can be dropped off at the church, 1007 First Ave. S., from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Brutally cold temperatures as low as minus 8 left Fort Dodge residents feeling frigid on Thursday.

The cold air was enough to produce watery eyes within seconds of exposure. Conditions like that make it difficult to imagine someone without a warm coat. That’s why St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has been collecting coats for its annual coat drive since mid-December. The church will continue collecting through Jan. 16. At that time, the coats will be donated to three organizations: the Salvation Army of Fort Dodge, Beacon of Hope men’s shelter, and the Lotus Community Project women and children shelter. Mary Kay Daniel, a longtime member of the church, said it’s an opportunity to provide something essential to the community. “There are people in need and it’s a way to give back to the community,” Daniel said. “I know personally I have coats that I may not wear that could help someone else.” Daniel, who has been a member of St. Mark’s since the day she was born, said the past few years have been hard on churches. “For the past year and a half or two years, we just haven’t been able to have the same impact and the same amount of fundraisers,” she said. The pandemic has interrupted in-person services and events. That’s made it more of a challenge for the church to help. She is hopeful that going forward the church will provide and more members will be able to safely come to church. Daniel said the coat drive is a significant way to help the community. “We have received quite a few coats so far,” she said. “Mostly from members from the congregation, but we will accept coats from anyone who has coats to donate.” Those who wish to donate coats can drop them off at the church, 1007 First Ave. S., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. REPRINTED FROM THE FORT DODGE MESSENGER