STONEVILLE, N.C. -- Ride down about any road in Rockingham County right now, and you might see a coat tied to a utility pole.

It's an effort to clothe the homeless that started months ago and will continue through the holidays.

"They don't have to be homeless, to take a coat, they just can be needy,"  said Jan Griggs, with Blessing the Homeless of Rockingham County

Some are draped on benches. They all bear tags that say "take me if you need me, I'm not lost."

Jan Griggs and volunteers with the group spent months gathering, washing and tagging 1,803 coats. A sewing club crocheted hats, scarves and gloves.

The group started putting out all the items on Thanksgiving.

"You know where the biggest homeless areas are in a town, and we went straight for those areas,” said Carl Griffin, a volunteer.

The coats aren't the end of the effort. Toward the Christmas break, the focus will be on school children in need.

 "We're gathering more coats, we'll line up the fences again,” said Griggs.

The group's also putting out "blessing boxes" filled with snacks.

"Most homeless people do not choose to be homeless. They've had a tragedy, death, divorce, the loss of a job,” said Griggs.

The coats are intended to start the healing process.

"The coat idea, to us, is when they put the coat on, and they wrap that coat around them, that they're wrapping love around them and that just lets them know that somebody cares," said Griggs.

If you're interested in helping out, the group has a Facebook page, where you can contact them.