MARYSVILLE — The holiday season might be over, but there are still people in need in the local community and members of the Marysville United Methodist Church want to help.

“Kloz 4 Kids” opened in the portable building behind the Marysville United Methodist Church, at 5600 64th St. NE, on Aug. 18 of last year, and since then it’s served an estimated 83 area children, according to Linda Huntley.

Huntley and her fellow “Kloz 4 Kids” board members — Alyce Matson, Donna Wallace and Kerry Fairchild — distinguish their group’s mission from those of similarly charitable organizations, such as St. Joseph’s House, by noting that St. Joseph’s House serves as a clothing bank for whole families, while “Kloz 4 Kids” specifically targets the clothing needs of children in the Marysville area.

“When young children have decent clothing to wear, they’re going to learn better and feel better about themselves,” Matson said. “It’s been immensely satisfying to see so many appreciative families.”

Matson echoed the sentiments of her fellow board members, who emphasized that neither recipients nor volunteers have to be Methodist, since “we’re not trying to convert anyone. We’re just here to serve.”

Which is not to say that the board members’ fellow Methodists haven’t helped, since they credit the Marysville United Methodist Church, along with the Marysville School District, among their top donors of money and clothing items. Still, Huntley added that more donations are always needed and appreciated.

Among the volunteer tasks that the group needs help with are laundering, ironing and sorting clothes, assisting shoppers, conducting inventories, and clerical and administrative duties. “Kloz 4 Kids” accepts both new and gently used clothing items, as long as they’re clean and in good repair, but especially during the winter months, it’s putting a special emphasis on collecting warm coats.

To qualify to receive free clothes, children simply need to live in the Marysville area and attend any grade from preschool through middle school, although there are limits on how many of each type of clothing item each child can obtain. “Kloz 4 Kids” is open Wednesdays from 4:30-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., by appointment only.

For more information, call 360-659-8521.