Thanks to New Shady Grove Church Word Ministry in Sardis, battered women and foster children throughout Selma will have a warm coat for the holiday season.

The church, in partnership with Methodist Protestant Brotherhood, will donate 25 coats, school uniformed shirts, pants and jackets to Sabra Sanctuary and Dallas County Department of Human Resources.

The brand new coats and clothing were bought or donated by New Shady Grove members. Proceeds from the church’s 5K Walk Against Hunger held Nov. 19, helped to buy the coats and finance the church’s community Thanksgiving meal.

“We served over 200 meals, and the balance went to purchasing coasts from the organization,” said Bishop B. A. Scott, New Shady Grove pastor. “The battered women, many of the time, don’t have anything when they come to the shelter. It (the coats) aids them. Many of our kids in our school system don’t have coats, (and) this helps them stay warm during the cold season.”

Scott said though Christmas marks a “season of giving,” the act should be celebrated all-year long.

“We thank the community at large and all who took part in the 5K Run and Thanksgiving Day meal — which will be an annual event,” Scott said. “We hope the message will be (that) all of us will take a second look at this season (and) be grateful for what we have. There’s someone in need that will greatly appreciate the gift.”

Both Sabra Sanctuary and DHR thanked the church for its gift.

“It makes us feel really good,” said Andrea Dudley, DHR spokesperson.

“A lot of the time when we receive kids coming into foster care, sometimes they come in with only the clothes on their backs. When they don’t have a lot of things, we have to buy things and that puts a strain on our budget. We appreciate all the donations that we get.”

Bush Hog, Miller Funeral Services Inc, Selma Mayor George Evans and the Selma City Council and Capitol Hill Healthcare Center Nursing Home in Montgomery, also gave donations to the cause, Scott said.