Coats, new sneakers, underwear and socks are among the donations needed for Threads, a ministry of All Saints’, Atlanta, that clothes children in need. The outreach project also is seeking volunteers to help process the clothing that’s donated. Donations can be placed in the Threads donation spots in the parish hall, the reception area, 1st and 2nd floor of the Pritchett Children's Center or at the Threads shop, also on the All Saints’ campus, 634 W. Peachtree St., open Wednesdays 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. Processing clothing is often a time consuming and intensive process; Threads can always use more volunteers to help in the shop by sorting donations, laundering, tagging, folding or hanging clothing to be put out on the “selling floor.” Any and all help in the shop or taking on a special project is welcome. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ellen Hayes at the Threads shop, 404-267-4317, or you may contact Wendy Silliman at 404-870-0057. Threads celebrated its first birthday on Aug. 8. In its first year, it clothed more than 640 children (the only agency in Atlanta to clothe children in need from head to toe for free), reached out to the community by tripling the number of agencies permitted to refer “clients,” and went high tech, with a state of the art inventory control system. Between August and Oct. 31 of this year alone, Threads clothed 724 children in need. Many of these children were relocated to Atlanta because of Hurricane Katrina. Others arrived from the various new referral agencies. In addition to the original three referring agencies (Midtown Assistance Center, Crossroads Ministry, and the Atlanta Children’s Shelter), Threads now serves children from All Saints’ Refugee Ministry, Catholic Social Services, Emmaus House, Antioch Baptist Church North, East Lake Community Foundation, Crawford Long Hospital and Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family Centers. Threads also provides clothing to children from C.W. Hill Elementary School, Grady Healthcare neonatal unit and Genesis Shelter. We also continue to serve children in need displaced by Hurricane Katrina through our Refugee Ministry referral process. Word of this much-needed ministry is spreading quickly. On a weekly basis, volunteers report stories of children entering the shop with shoes so worn and small that their toes curl under, children getting so excited to find a “cool” outfit, and children thrilled to be “shopping in a store” – a first for many – and in a place where people care. Clients regularly express their thanks for Threads and even offer to collect clothes for Threads as a way of “giving back.” Please remember: Threads relies on donations of new or very gently used clothing to provide these children with the clothes and shoes they need. More children means more clothing. We need your help.