First Baptist Church - Cordell is inviting the community to participate in its annual holiday giveaways -- clothes and Thanksgiving food boxes --, which start Saturday at the church's facilities.
The clothing giveaway will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the First Baptist Church Family/Christian Life Center, which is directly across the street from the church.
The church is located at 620 Cordell Ave.
Janis Van Hook, a member of the organizing committee, said clothes and shoes are available in all sizes for men, women and children.
A variety of bedding items will also be available.
Van Hook said the inventory largely includes mostly gently worn/used items and some new items.
"We have so many clothes, we can't even put them all on the racks right now. We'll just refill the racks as we need to throughout the day," she said.
Van Hook said clothing racks will be lined up outside the building, noting that many times, passers-by "who don't even know what's going on" have seen the racks outside, stopped and left with clothes.
In the event of inclement weather, the clothing giveaway will be moved inside the life center.
A free COVID clinic will also be held on site Saturday. Van Hook said attendees may receive vaccinations during clothing giveaway.
From 9 a.m. until noon on Nov. 21, First Baptist Church will distribute Thanksgiving food boxes inside the church.
Van Hook said 50 boxes will be distributed.
"So, the first 50 people who get there will get them. We will give them out until we run out," she said.
Van Hook said the boxes will contain chicken and all of the trimmings and ingredients, including flour and cranberry sauce, to prepare a "full Thanksgiving dinner."
To pick up a food box, participants are asked to enter the church through the rear door underneath the carport on the south side of the church.
A photo ID and active address must be presented.
Van Hook previously explained that the church receives items for the boxes from a food pantry and must properly document the items that are given away.
"And it has to be their address. They can't say 'Well, this is a P.O. box and I don't live there. It's one household to a box," Van Hook said.
For more information, call Van Hook at 870-918-2706.