VANCOUVER — Parishioners at St. Joseph Parish collected more than 200 coats this fall to help their homeless neighbors stay warm this winter.

“So many of us are so blessed compared to many other people in the world, and being able to share our blessings, thinking of others, is so important,” said Sharon Barricks, who started Coats of Kindness at her Vancouver parish.

For years, Barricks said, she has wanted to collect coats to help people in need, especially cold-weather gear for children. But she struggled to figure out where the need existed, how to collect donations and the delivery logistics.

The answer became clear when her husband Jeff started volunteering with the Winter Hospitality Overflow Shelter, an interfaith, community-supported program in Clark County. Known as WHO, the program offers overflow shelters for families and individuals from November through March, according to its website. With volunteers from churches and other organizations, the shelters at two Lutheran churches offer a warm place to sleep, a hot shower and a meal.

Barricks saw the need for winter coats for shelter residents but needed a name for her effort.

“When I was thinking of Jesus’ kindness to others, no matter who they were, and (that) we are his hands on earth, I thought of the name ‘Coats of Kindness,’” Barricks explained.

Sharon Barricks makes minor repairs on donated coats that will be given to adults and children taking shelter at the Winter Hospitality Overflow shelters in Vancouver. The coats were donated by parishioners of Vancouver’s St. Joseph Parish through the Coats of Kindness outreach. (Courtesy Sharon Barricks)

The momentum increased when Jane Seidel, who oversees the overflow shelter for families and individuals, agreed to accept coats that are clean and in good repair, and St. Joseph Parish agreed to support the ministry. After advertising collection dates in the parish bulletin, the couple set out collection boxes at church.

Jeff picked up and brought the donations to the couple’s home, where Sharon sorted through the coats, cleaned them as needed and plied her needle to make minor repairs.

“I am so happy we got so many coat donations for kids,” she said.

When the coats were ready, Jeff helped bag them up and dropped them at the shelter, Sharon said. 

“God’s ministry provided a total of 200 coats and seven bags of clothing,” she said. “It’s been just an absolutely beautiful response from the parishioners at St. Joseph.”

Jeff Barricks prepares to take bags of coats for children and adults to the Winter Hospitality Overflow shelters for families and individuals in Vancouver. About 200 coats and seven bags of clothing were donated by parishioners of Vancouver’s St. Joseph Parish. (Courtesy Sharon Barricks)

Coats of Kindness is wrapped up for this year, Barricks said, but next year she might try expanding it to other local parishes — if she has some help.

“Being God’s project, this just boomed,” Barricks said. “If it had been just my project, it wouldn’t have happened.”