"We really have something for everyone," said Kris Gray, chair of God's Clothing Closet at Ruhl's United Methodist Church. "We have clothing and shoes and purses and bags and accessories and books, housewares, linens, devotional material and more."

The church, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim, will hold its annual God's Clothing Closet event in its gym on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25, 26 and 27. Thursday and Friday hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. by appointment only and will be limited to 50 shoppers per time slot. To reserve a shopping time for Aug. 25 or 26, call Barb Dunmire at 717-201-7566 and leave a message. Saturday's hours will be from 8 a.m. to noon, and no appointment is needed.

All items are free, Gray noted. "We do this as a way to serve the community, with both their physical needs of clothing and their spiritual needs as well," she said. "Anyone can come and get new-to-you clothing. We don't ask you to show financial need. Just come and shop." Along with clothing, housewares and devotional material, grab-and-go snacks will be available at the exit.

Dunmire, who is the event co-chair, emphasized the quality and variety of items in God's Clothing Closet. "We have a lot of brand-name stuff," she stated. "Some things still have the tags on them."

The church has been holding the event for 22 years, Gray said, noting that the project began as a way to serve local families. "We used to send clothing to (a mission) in Kentucky, and we had to pay to send the clothing down there," she commented. "When we were giving away food boxes at Christmas, some of the families we were serving said they needed clothes for their kids. I thought, 'Why are we sending clothes to Kentucky when there is a need right here in Manheim?'"

Last year, the event served about 300 shoppers, Gray said, and more than 50 new Bibles as well as children's Bible storybooks and devotional materials were given away. Shoppers also donated three boxes of food to the Manheim Central Food Pantry. Donations of nonperishable food items will again be accepted this year, but are not required. "We would love to get back to serving over 600 people like we did in the past," Gray stated. "It's free and it's open to anyone. We just want people to come and get what they need."

Donations of clothing and accessories will be accepted during the week of the event, beginning on Monday, Aug. 22. Donations may be dropped off by the front door of the church under the roof. Clean linens and towels will also be accepted, but no furniture will be accepted. Gray emphasized that there is a special need for baby, children's and teen clothing as well as clothing in size 2X and larger in good condition.