Whether it's called a giving tree or a coat drive, several Niles churches and nonprofits are collecting warm clothing during the holiday season. They plan to distribute the items to people short on funds to help protect against winter's bitter temperatures.

Consider donating to:

1) St. John Brebeuf Church's Giving Tree.  Leo Weiss, who volunteers with the parish's St. Vincent DePaul Society, which assists the needy, said parishioners have taken wish-list ornaments off the Giving Tree. The ornaments indicate a wish from a specific needy person, such as for a sweater or coat.

However, Weiss invited people to buy items such as gloves, hats, socks, scarves, sweatpants or sweatshirts, wrap them as Christmas presents and attach a piece of paper or tag to the outside to indicate the contents and whether they're for a man, woman or child. Donors should bring them to any Mass at the church, 8301 N. Harlem Ave. in Niles, this weekend, and they'll be gratefully accepted and passed on to someone in need, he said.

2. The Niles Senior Center has a Giving Tree in its lobby. People who need warm clothing have written their wishes on paper ornaments hanging on the tree, and anyone who wants to make a donation can take the ornament off the tree, purchase and wrap the gift, and bring it to the senior center.

3. Our Lady of Ransom parish is also sponsoring a Giving Tree.  Potential contributors can call the parish office at 847-823-2550 for details.

4. Niles' dean of charitable giving, Peter "Uncle Pete" Zonsius, who is known for collecting furniture, clothing and other items from St. John Brebeuf parishioners and delivering it to the needy on the West Side of Chicago, had suggestions for brightening someone's winter.

People can bring donations to the collection boxes located in the parking lots of Our Lady of Ransom Church, St. Isaac Jogues Church and St. Martha's Church, 8545 N. Georgiana Ave. in Morton Grove.

"I don't think people would drive to the West Side," Zonsius said, "but if they do, these two places give the items right out to the poor. They don't sell them in a thrift store or anything like that. What they take in, they give away and don't charge people for it."

He suggested calling two churches in Chicago: Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, Jackson Boulevard and Kedzie Avenue, at 773-456-4217; and St. Martin de Porres Church, Washington Boulevard and Laramie Avenue, at 773-287-0206.

5. Emerson Middle School concluded its coat drive in which 71 coats were collected.