Hundreds of coats given out for free on the Downtown Eastside

The organizers of the 21st annual Christmas coat drive in Vancouver are thanking the public tonight for its support.

For more than two decades Roni-Lyn Sanders and her father Gordon have handed out coats to those living on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. But earlier this month they were having troubles collecting enough donations.

They need at least 200 gently used winter coats, but as of last Sunday, they only had about 50.

“This year the economy is tough on some people and it’s starting at the top and hitting the bottom hard. Most people usually have two or three or four coats in their closet that they’re not wearing and this year, everybody’s making do with what they have,” said Roni-Lyn Sanders last weekend.

But after a story by Global News, they received so many coats that they had to bring in another truck to store them all.

WATCH: Nadia Stewart reported on the coat drive’s plight last weekend

“Next thing you know, we have a lot of coats, coming in very quickly, from five different drop places. There’s probably over 1000 coats,” said Gordon Sanders.

“I’ve had a lot of thank yous tonight, a lot of Merry Christmas, a lot of hugs, a lot of kisses, a lot of god bless you. There’s no way we could have done without every little person putting a little bit forward – and a little bit makes a big communal support,” said Roni-Lyn Sanders.

All coats that weren’t given away tonight will be given to the Lookout Society.

The Sanders, meanwhile, are already looking to 2016.

“We’re going to keep going strong. We’ve got lots of people wanting to help us, so we’re going to go forward,” said Roni-Lyn.