DENTON (1080 KRLD) - You may have heard of The Giving Tree, but what about The Giving Fence? Well, it's real. And it's helping people in need in Denton.
"We've got a fence, and it was just empty," says Paul Juarez, Executive Director of First Refuge Ministries in Denton. "So we put up a big banner that just says 'The Giving Fence'"
Basically, the fence acts as a way for people to leave items they don't need anymore, things like coats and blankets, for others who really do need them.
"It says 'Leave what you can, take what you need,'" Juarez says.
The idea to launch the project came from First Refuge Ministries staff member Brittney Bradshaw, who saw something similar on Pinterest. So far, the fence has only been up for a few months, but it's been a big hit. And right now, Juarez says it's seeing a "Coat Boom" like never before.
"People have been hearing about [the fence] and bringing us coats and blankets and hats," he says. "It's been awesome."
In the last 24 hours, Juarez says about 150 coats have been left on the fence. About 100 of those have already found new owners.
Anyone is welcome to swing by and take a coat or blanket … and anyone is welcome to donate, as well. Juarez says in addition to warm clothing items like scarves, coats, hats and gloves, the ministry is also asking for Ziploc bags and clothespins.
Donations are left on the fence, then staff members collect them and take them inside to make sure they're clean and suitable to be given away. After that, the items are packaged in weather-safe bags and hung on the fence once again.
With a frigid weekend ahead, the coats, blankets hats and gloves could very well save lives, and Juarez says it’s great to see so many people coming together to donate.
"All we're doing is following our mission verse," Juarez says. "Jesus says in Matthew: 'That what you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.' That's all we're doing."
First Refuge Ministries (and The Giving Fence) is located at 1701 Broadway St. in Denton. If you want to support The Giving Fence, you can also donate here.