Rainy conditions didn’t dampen the giving spirit Oct. 10 as dozens of volunteers gathered in Calera’s Community Center to aid those in need.

Hundreds of area residents lined up in front of the center in the early morning hours as volunteers sponsored the fourth-annual Acts of Kindness clothing drive.

During the event, volunteers collected clothing donations from residents across Central Alabama, and donated them to residents facing difficult financial times.

“We had more donations at noon Thursday than we did during the whole event last year,” said Rebecca Krueger, one of the event’s organizers. “We have had more than 200 contributors so far this year.

“With the tough economic times, we are expecting a much larger crowd this year,” Kruger added. “It seems like there are more people here right now than there were this time last year.”

Any donations remaining after the event will be donated to a Birmingham-based clothing mission, Kruger explained.

“This hasn’t just been a Calera event. This has truly been a county and region-wide event,” Kruger said. “People have been incredibly generous with clothing donations this year.”