The cold, light rain had been coming down since the day before, but volunteers hardly minded. They still woke up early, set up shop at their local church, and opened their doors to the needy. It was not just a duty; it was something they genuinely wanted to do.

Members of Harmony Freewill Baptist’s congregation opened their doors Saturday to offer free haircuts and new sets of clothes for people in need.

Jennifer Green, as she was working to give a young girl a haircut, said this kind of outreach will always be necessary.

“People are in need all the time,” Green said.

She said she and Animal Shelter Director Shannon Posada, who also goes to Harmony, got together and decided to put something on every other month. This is what they came up with after brainstorming.

Visitors got to receive a haircut free of charge. After that, they could browse clothing options from several different tables, especially cold weather gear as fall weather chills into true winter. When that was all done, they also had the chance to receive a hot meal.

“You are helping ease a burden on families who cannot afford it,” Pastor Brandon Young said. “It makes life a little more enjoyable.”

He said this outreach program was not his idea. It all came from Green and other members of the congregation.

“It is a beautiful thing to watch your flock go out of their way to show our community love,” he said. “This is them doing what is preached.”

Green said she wants to show a different side of what the community can do for people.

“We live in a world of hate,” she said. “We want to show God is love.”

In addition to the clothing, volunteers also handed out blankets to help deal with the freezing temperatures. On each of them was a little picture of Weston Cosey, who died in a dirt biking accident earlier this month, along with the message “So, when all that’s left of me is love, give me away.”

Posada said such a message is vital to their purpose as a congregation.

“If all you have to give is love, that is all we need to give,” Posada said.