Pastor Robert Kerby says the idea started when he and another man sat around talking about things they could do in Friona. They decided passing out coats would be cool. Plenty of people in the community jumped on board, so the church chose to keep it going every year.
Coats are not the church's only work. Victory Church also helps people with bills and meals. Other churches in the area run food outreach and different programs, and Kerby says he appreciates that each one has its own niche. For Victory Church, that niche has been coats for 15 years.
The church sits at 110 E. 9th St., and kids must come with an adult. The help reaches well beyond Friona, to people from Hereford, Lazbuddie, Muleshoe and as far away as Farwell. Kerby says people in these tight-knit towns come together when tragedy hits. "It's just been a tremendous blessing to a lot of people," he said.
Kerby and his friend planned for 50 or 60 coats, and that first year they handed out about 180.