NEWBERN — God gave Judy Krebbs a wide-eyed vision for helping others while she slept three years ago.
And the idea — that of launching a twice-weekly clothes closet giveaway at Newbern United Methodist Church for anyone struggling — seems fitting when one considers that Krebbs once gave the coat off her back to a shivering woman on the street during a 1970s winter in Columbus.
“Look right at my face,” said the 79-year-old Krebbs, sitting amid three rooms and a basement hallway full of clothes, shoes, blazers, handbags, coats caps, blankets, sheets — some of it new with store tags still affixed — and goodness-knows-what else. “Look right at my eyes. They literally sparkle when I talk about all this.”
What else might your expect from a retiree eager to put to healthy use 55 years of retail experience along with a heart for those pushing to make a better life?
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Krebbs and a team of devoted volunteers — people such such as Dean and Cheryl Henderson and Denise Ollestad — will host a back-to-school clothing giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the church at 15786 E. Main St., about seven miles east of Columbus. Free food consisting of hot dogs, chips, cookies and ice cream will be served.
“We’re doing all this because we still love this church,” Dean Henderson said, even though he and his wife and the Krebbs all are former members.
And though the event focuses specifically on the needs of area students, the outreach really is for anyone with any clothing need at all. To that end, Krebbs and her helpers are partly puzzled why no more than five to 10 people per giveaway date on Saturdays and Mondays come for help — especially when the clothes closet boasts probably more than 1,000 items presently.
“I know that some of the people want the ColumBUS to be able to come out here,” Krebbs said, adding that the poor often are without their own form of transportation.
But the public bus system route does not stretch that far. And, though people have wished for evening hours when they say they could make it to pick up items, Krebbs can’t be there at times other than the middle of the day.
So Krebbs and others have reached out to bring clothes to the needy, sending stacks and bags of various items to The Alley outreach in Seymour, to Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus and elsewhere. She figures that there must be some way for God to answer her prayer of distributing these clothes to those who need them most.
After all, years ago, she prayed one simple prayer one day: “God, I am tired of being lonely. I need a companion.”
Later that day, she met and adopted an affectionate stray cat she named Angel.
“We’re not going to give up with this,” Krebbs said. “I’m definitely not going to give up. I’d still like for him (God) to bring the people here (for help). Because this is my baby.”
As she and her volunteers nurture it, they believe their compassion will pay off — all wearing their heart on their sleeve. And pants. And everything else.
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What: Free back-to-school clothes giveaway, including free food.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3.
Where: Newbern United Methodist clothes closet, at 15786 E. Main St., about seven miles east of Columbus.
Information: Judy Krebbs at 812-657-7140.
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