BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With winter weather just around the corner, a local church is doing their part to get warm clothing to those in need.
"I don't know how many times I've rode past a bus stop and seen a child without a hat on or gloves and those are needed items," said Darius Pridgen, Pastor of True Bethel Baptist Church and Common Council President.
In July, True Bethel fed 5,000 people across the city of Buffalo using a food pantry truck. They also operate the True Bethel Clothing Pantry on Kehr Street. Now they're planning to buy a used school bus and create a mobile clothing pantry, taking free winter clothing items directly to the people.
"We're going to make it like a store where people can get on and get the clothing, where we can ride around the neighborhood especially on cold days, code blue days, and school days to ensure that when we see people, we meet the need."
They'll purchase the school bus before the end of the month but until then the clothing pantry is still open two days a week. The mobile clothing pantry is funded by the church and stocked with new donated items from generous benefactors.
"We're asking the community to donate, if possible, new or winter items or very, very gently used. They can drop them off at the church at 907 East Ferry all week, on a Sunday, Thursday night, we're here. It'll all be given away, nothing sold."
Pridgen says when the mobile clothing pantry is ready for service, they'll use social media to get the word out to the community.