Beside Glasgow City Hall and Sweet Basil Bakery stand a coat rack that offers free coats to those stuck in the cold weather. Beth Wagner, who owns the building along with her husband Michael, said her family has been fortunate and therefore wants to help others who may not have been as fortunate as them. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
As inclement weather continues throughout much of the United States, Kentucky and Barren County one woman is offering warm coats to those who need them.
The National Weather Service has placed Barren County under a wind advisory. The NWS stated a “very active weather pattern” will pass through the county starting on Friday and continuing into next week, likely bringing “gusty winds and potential snow.” After the storm systems pass through an “arctic cold front will bring bitterly cold temperatures to the region, with wind chills below zero for many locations by early next week.”
In light of that, and because of the colder months in general, Beth Wagner — along with her husband Michael “Mike,” and children Eli, Evan and Maggie Wagner — is offering free coats to those in need during these winter months. Wrapped in a plastic covering to keep out the weather and laden with two heavy, white bags, the rack stands beside Glasgow City Hall and Sweet Basil Bake Shop on the Glasgow Public Square.
Wagner, who owns the buildings where the rack stands, said she got the idea while on a trip.
“We had been on a trip to…North Carolina and had seen a similar rack and thought it was a great idea,” Wagner said. “We have the space to do it and so we bought a rack and some coats and set it up.”
The coat rack stands beside a simple white sign with black lettering that reads “Are you cold? Take one. Do you want to help? Leave one” followed by a verse from the Book of Matthew. The verse — Matthew 25: 36-40 — tells of doing good works to people in need, and, coming from “a small country church” outside Glasgow, Wagner said that is the goal of the free coats.
“I do believe the good Lord places us with people and in situations to benefit others in different ways,” Wagner said.
She said her family did this last year as well; setting up the rack shortly after the holiday season. As was the case last year, Wagner said, the community has taken to the “Take one, Leave one if you can” coat rack saying she has only had to supply coats one time this year.
“We put coats on it the first day and we’ve not had to put anymore on since then,” Wagner said. “Everybody has really showed up.”
As of right now, Wagner said she is not aware of other such coat racks around the city, but hopes their coat rack might inspire others to do similar things.
“People go through hard times for whatever reason…and if you’ve been blessed I believe we need to be good stewards with what we’ve been blessed with,” Wagner said. “You never know when you’ll be the one needing help so if we can keep somebody warm and help them make it through then we should help each other out.”
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