The Christian County Optimist Club has once again helped children of all ages this winter with their Coats for Kids drive.

During October, the Optimist Club collected 411 coats at 18 collection sites, said Club President Donna Hartman.

"The Optimist Club is an international organization that works to bring out the best in kids," Hartman said. "All of our projects have to do with children, and so the Coats for Kids project seemed to make a lot of sense to us."

The project -- one of many the club does -- had its most successful year this year, Hartman said. That could be related to inserting a little friendly competitive spirit into the drive by having a traveling plaque given to the site that collects the most coats.

Last year's winner was Inman Elementary School in Nixa. This year the winner was Century Elementary in Nixa with 60 coats collected.

Hartman said there was no age limit on the coats, asking donors to give any size they had because "kids come in all sizes."

Comet Cleaners partnered with the Optimist Club by cleaning every coat collected. Those coats were then given to Least of These in Nixa, where they are given to those in need, Hartman said.

The fall season has already brought chilly temperatures across southern Missouri, bringing Christian County residents into Least of These for warmer clothes.

Marilyn Bender, one of the all-volunteer workers at the non-denominational food pantry and clothing closet, said many people have already picked up winter clothes.

Least of These helps many children with coats, but adults also come in need.

"We had one woman who was pregnant come in during that first cold snap and she had on pedal-pushers and a short-sleeved shirt," Bender recalls. "We asked her, 'Where's your coat?' and she said she didn't have a coat. So we told her not to leave here without one."

Each year the number of coats the pantry needs grows as the number of families -- especially children -- grows, Bender said.

Least of These serves Christian County low-income residents with food and clothes. Located at 511 Kathryn (behind Allied Bus Lines) in Nixa, it is open from 8 a.m. until noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.