Rochellia Kindred is busy taking care of her mother and her granddaughter and said the family appreciated Suffolk Christian Church’s coat giveaway on Saturday morning.

“This is a blessing,” she said while looking for coats for herself and her granddaughter.

The church had about 800 coats — the most ever — and a line out the door when the morning began, volunteer Evelyn Jones said. A high of 68 apparently didn’t cause anyone to forget the cold snap earlier in the week.

“We have been very busy today,” said Tom Ashcraft, president of the Sunday School class that spearheads the church-wide project. “I think we’ve had more than we’ve had in the last two to three years. I think you can attribute it to this week’s cold weather.”

Ashcraft also said more adults seemed to be grasping the opportunity to receive coats this year. The event, now in its 24th year, gave out just children’s coats for the first few years.

Many people came to the church prepared to shop for themselves, family members, friends and neighbors.

“I’m getting coats for my grandchildren and family,” said Rhonda Boykin, who is neighbors with Kindred.

Volunteers were also able to use the event to their advantage. Abigail Bilby, a 14-year-old King’s Fork High School freshman, was counting the time she spent there toward her new community service graduation requirement. It was her third year working at the giveaway.

“It’s fun to be here and see people get so excited for a coat,” said the young Suffolk Christian Church member.

A first-year volunteer at the event but longtime member of the church, Jim Topping, said the event was enriching.

“It’s very rewarding to see the community come together like this,” he said. “It was good to see such a good turnout. You work so hard to put it together, when the day comes you want to be sure the word got out.”

The event was publicized ahead of time in the Suffolk News-Herald as well as through government and non-profit social service organizations. The church at 216 N. Main St. accepts donations of new or gently used coats, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves and sweaters year-around, as well as cash, which is used to purchase new items.