Temperatures hovered in the mid-30s in Roseburg on Friday morning, the winter weather demanding that anyone venturing outside don a warm coat, scarf and perhaps even a pair of gloves or a hat.

It was perfect timing for the Douglas County Housing and Homeless Coalition to put on its annual Day of Sharing. The event offers local low-income and homeless people a chance to come in from the cold to stock up on warm clothes and other supplies to get through winter.

And come they did. Shortly after the event started Friday morning, the St. Joseph Catholic Church school gymnasium in Roseburg was packed with people perusing tables stacked high with donated jackets and sweaters. They lined up to get new hats, gloves, sleeping bags, tarps and long underwear. Most carried a big garbage bag to load up with their best finds. They also had the opportunity to eat a warm meal, get a free haircut, visit tables set by various local social service agencies and listen to live music from five bands donating their time.

In between the tables covered in winter clothing, Glen Dunning Jr. gleefully bounced along to the folksy music being played by a band on the gym stage. While he said he loved the music, he was also thrilled to get free clothes and meal, much appreciated on his fixed income from Social Security disability benefits. He said he'd looked for a job in Roseburg for the past 18 months. It was his second year attending the event.

“Times are tough and this is a blessing,” the Roseburg resident said. “Just looking around, this is why they call it sharing and caring.”

Friday's offerings were the result of a two-month clothing drive arranged by AmeriCorps VISTA, according to VISTA member Aubrey Laverty, the clothing drive's organizer. She said grants from the Ford Family and Cow Creek foundations helped make it possible to give away more than 600 hats, 200 pairs of socks, 300 coats, 95 sleeping bags and 400 pairs of gloves, purchased new or collected through 23 drop sites throughout the county.

Among the organizations and businesses contributing to the effort were the United Community Action Network, Battered Persons' Advocacy, the Department of Human Services, Housing Authority of Douglas County, the Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Umpqua Community Health Center, Casa de Belen, the Harm Reduction Center, Umpqua Valley Disabilities Network, Bailey Veterinary Clinic and Lighthouse Bakery.

Leo Tresselle, who runs the free dinners at St. Joseph and helped organize the meal during the Day of Sharing, said he's impressed with just how much support came in for the event.

“It's amazing how receptive this county is to the needs of its residents,” he said.

Dunning said he was grateful for the community contributions.

“Last night I said a prayer saying thank you to the Ford Foundation and the (Cow Creek) Foundation,” he said. “I have a fiancee and this is our Christmas.”

Joining Dunning in his appreciation were others on fixed incomes who had fallen on hard times financially, or were sleeping on the street.

“I'm grateful to be able to get coats for my family,” said Brenda May of Roseburg, whose husband's medical problems have strained their family financially. “I'm grateful to be able to come here.”

Hortencia Madrigal was also looking out for her family as she searched for clothing for her two children, ages 5 and 7. She said she's been seeking work for about a year, ever since she got laid off from Bayliner.

“I've had a really hard time to find a job,” she said.

Her son, Alejandro Anguiano, 5, excitedly listed everything he'd be taking home, including gloves, a hat and Band-Aids.

Lucinda Grenawalt said she's been unemployed for three years and is staying at the Douglas County Housing Authority.

“I'm thankful. It's saved my butt,” she said of the event, shortly after sitting down at a festively decorated table to enjoy a hearty-looking beef stew with bread and butter. Even donations such as toothpaste and toilet paper have made a big difference for her financially, she said.

Sitting near Grenawalt, Connie, who declined to give her last name, also expressed her gratitude.

“It's saved me from freezing my butt off at night because I sleep under the Stewart Parkway bridge,” she said.

She was happy to get a supplies at the event to keep her warm while she sleeps under the bridge with only the company of her cat, a Siamese mix named Justice.

Dancer Davis, supervisor of the UCAN case management program and one of the organizers of the Day of Sharing, said putting together and attending the event is very gratifying for her and volunteers.

“It's actually my favorite day of the whole year,” she said. “You can see the immediate impact on people.”

• You can reach reporter Inka Bajandas at 957-4202 or by e-mail at ibajandas@nrtoday.com.