By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — It’s pretty warm outside now, but the blast of winter is just around the corner and a group of concerned citizens hopes to make it a little warmer then, too.
Warm Up Marshall County is entering its ninth year of collecting and distributing coats to those in need around the area. Steve Keiser of Oliver Ford and Don and Bev Price of Price’s Village Valet Cleaners have been teaming up to help people stay warm in the area.
“I was coming to work one day and I heard that St. Joseph County was doing something similar and I thought that was something we could do here,” said Keiser. “I bounced it off Jack (Oliver) and he got behind it and the Price’s have been customers of ours for years. When I asked them to be involved they were very enthusiastic.”
Another bonus to the program this year was given by the associates at the Plymouth JC Penney’s store. When last year’s coats went on sale following the winter season, Mary Regnier thought that was a good time to start buying up the leftover coats. Her fellow associates followed suit.
“Some younger girls gave money; others bought coats,” Regnier said. “We just had a bunch of kids coats leftover, so we bought them up.”
“The ladies saved money from their pay,” said Keiser. “The community has been very generous over the years.”
The group of associates plans to continue that tradition this year, as well, to give to the program next year. About 15 to 20 associates were involved from the Plymouth store.
Continuing to collect coats for this year’s drive at Oliver Ford, in Plymouth, until Thursday, Oct. 25, the coats will then be taken to Price’s. They will  clean the coats and take them to the  National Guard Armory on Madison Street, in Plymouth, for distribution on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. and then again on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
“Don and Bev do all the work really,” said Keiser. “That’s a lot of work taking 500 or so coats and cleaning them all after hours. If we have any that have buttons missing or need a little mending Bev takes care of that, too. They are just fantastic.”
With the warm weather area residents may need a little reminder about the coming winter.
“Usually when it gets cold people go to the closet and see that coat they haven’t worn in a few years and think they should just give it to somebody who might be able to get some use out of it,” said Keiser. “It really hasn’t been that cold yet but if people just donate that old coat or two it makes a big difference.”