God obviously knows I have a big mouth. I have the BEST story about my annual "Share the Warmth" drive this year! I kicked off my annual coat drive a few weeks ago where I collect coats, hats, gloves, and scarves for local families and shelters in need where we live locally. I have been doing this drive for over 10 years now and I've always loved doing it. Last year I had a great response from our community and we collected 13 bags of winter gear for our local shelter.
This year, I opened it up earlier to include friends & family and I had a HUGE response from them. I was sent coats, hats, gloves, and scarves from literally around the nation - states included Ohio, Iowa, Virginia, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, and I am positive I am missing a few more states in there! I seriously have the BEST tribe EVER!
I wasn't sure the response I'd get from my local town but last year I had a pretty good response so I posted it in the paper (the weekly column I write) for a few weeks and posted it all over our community FB page several times so I was hoping for a good turn out.
Yesterday was the official collection day and Colin, Sammy and I went to our local community location to wait for people to show up. There were 3 people that stopped to donate items. I was VERY grateful for the 3 ladies that collected items and took the time to meet me and donate, but honestly, I was a little bummed out because I was surprised there weren't more drop-offs. Honestly, I was disappointed. I had written 3 columns in the paper about it and I figured our town was more charitable than that so I left feeling a little deflated. I told Colin "How am I going to write a column in the paper showing the results of the drive when I hardly had any response from my local community". I thought about it and I told him I wasn't going to put it in the paper bc it was honestly embarrassing for the town.
A few of my friends had donated money towards the drive so I went shopping to buy some coats. I went to Meijer and a few other local stores thinking I would get some good deals but I left every store empty handed bc coats seem outragiously expensive this year. At Meijer, I could not find a winter jacket under $70! WHAT!? Could this be why people were hanging onto their coats this year?!
So, deflated once again, I drove home with nothing thinking I would head out again the next day to shop. I was passing our local Dollar General and whipped in there at the last minute thinking "Well, what could it hurt to stop in here and see if maybe they have anything".
Wouldn't you know, I found some great prices on winter coats there! I grabbed several until I reached the $130 in donation money that I had been given and went to the register. Here is where the story takes a turn. 
The cashier told me that on Saturdays they have a special coupon where if you spend so much money you get $5 -$10 off your order. I had no idea and I had no coupons either. My cashier, Jennifer, said she had a few coupons so she split up my order so that I could use a few coupons, bringing my order down and saving me a ton of money. Plus, BONUS - the coats I grabbed were all on sale!
The line started backing up and there were SEVERAL people at this point waiting in line behind me and I turned around to apologize to everyone and told them it was for charity. All of a sudden, people started whipping out coupons and throwing coupons at me! Then, the money started flying! People were tossing money at me (I felt a little like a stripper for a hot second) .
.
Because of the coupons, the coats all being on sale, the EXTRA coupons people in the store were giving me AND the extra money people were donating, I went back through the line 6 different times shopping and grabbing more coats, scarves, sweatshirts, vests, and hats! I collected more this year than I did last year and the back of my SUV is completely full. I literally started crying bc I was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the cashier and the people in my community!
I told Colin that God probably said, "Oh you want something to write about?! No problem Brenda. Here is something you can write about" (He knows I have a big mouth).
The power of God never ceases to amaze me. He brought me through one of the worst times in my life losing my Max and I didn't just get through that time - I GREW through that time. He provided for me and my family as He always does. Then, He showed His mighty hand at work with this "Share the Warmth" drive and it will not only help to keep others warm that truly need the help, but it sure warmed my heart to see my community step up in a different way than I thought they would. God showed me that I should always have faith and that He always comes through and just because things don't work out one way, they can still work out!
I know this was long and if you are still reading this, I thank you for taking the time. To say my drive was a success this year would be an understatement. It was not only a success in helping others but it GREW me, too! 
xoxoxo,
Brenda
