An Oct. 10 clothing drive at the Calera Community Center helped nearly 550 people in need obtain winter clothing and other necessities, according to the event’s organizers.

The fourth-annual Acts of Kindness clothing drive, held each year by county volunteers, drew 548 recipients and more than 10 times more donations from area residents.

“The fall and winter clothing drive on Oct. 8-10 was a tremendous success,” Peggy Lee, one of the event’s organizers, wrote in a press release. “Ten times more clothes of all sizes and age groups were donated this year than in 2008 by generous citizens from numerous communities, such as Columbiana, Pelham, Montevallo, Jemison, Alabaster, cities in northeast Shelby County, and of course Calera.”

Families and individuals lined up out the door Oct. 10 as the volunteers worked to give away the donated winter items to people negatively affected by the recent economic downturn.

This year’s event drew about the same number of recipients as it did last year, but volunteers reported exponentially more donated items when compared with 2008.

“On Saturday, 548 recipients came to the Calera Community Center to select free clothing, blankets, shoes, etc., needed for the fall and winter season,” Lee wrote. “Each person was very appreciative and humbled by the support and generosity of all people who contributed their clothes and time.

“AOK members were the people who received the richest blessings,” Lee added.