An outgrowth of the Trinity Church of Escalon meal program, the adjacent Clothes Closet is now open to the community one Saturday a month. The closet, which has items for all ages, will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, with the next scheduled opening on Jan. 7.

Church secretary Julie Marconett said the once-a-month opening is overseen by Cathleen Chapman, who also was involved in the meal program put on through the church.

The twice monthly dinners have been discontinued for the time being, said Marconett, as attendance had fallen off, but the first Saturday opening of the clothes closet will hopefully fill a need in the community.

Trinity Church is at 1900 California Street; the clothes closet is downstairs, underneath the sanctuary and across the parking lot from the multi-purpose center where the meals were hosted.

“We don’t need a lot of donations right now,” Marconett said, noting that the clothes closet has received a lot of clothing items over the past few months. “We could use coats, though, it is the middle of winter; that is something people do need.”

Gently used or new coats are being accepted and Marconett said the idea behind opening up the clothes closet is to give people the opportunity to obtain clothing they might not otherwise be able to afford. Anyone in the community in need is welcome to visit the clothes closet the first Saturday of each month.

“We’ve done it for a couple of months now but we haven’t publicized it too much,” said Marconett.

With the cold weather now, though, officials want to make sure everyone knows the closet is open and available.

“If people need some specific type of clothing, they can come in and take a look,” explained Marconett. “It is free.”

There is a wide variety of sizes and styles, items for all ages, for men, women and children. More information about the clothes closet is available by contacting the church at 838-3000.