For anyone who needs assistance getting through the winter, the time to come forward is now.

Year after year, Brookhaven’s Outreach Ministries has worked to provide families with food, winter clothes, blankets and other supplies in their annual Operation Blessing event. Outreach Ministries is hard at work again this year, but they need families to pre-register for assistance.

The deadline for registration is Thursday. Those who want to take advantage of the program need to go to 210 West Court St. to fill out the required paperwork. The paperwork will record, basic information like the number of people in a household and the income level.

“We have a qualifying interview,” Outreach Ministries Director Jerry Durr said. “It’s the same thing as the Department of Human Services.”

Durr said the ministry is also in need of donations from the community. Money is always welcome, and so are clothes and blankets, through Durr said this year the ministry can no longer accept used items.

“If you personally want to donate toward the cause or purchase some winter clothes or blankets, that would really be appreciated,” Durr said.

The ministry has been working on Operation Blessing annually for over 30 years. Durr said he suspects people’s donations to reach over 200 local families this year. To Durr and the ministry, Operation Blessing is an opportunity to show love for all of Jesus’ disciples.

“We appreciate the community coming out and supporting us each year,” Durr said. “We just wanted to express that love in preparing people to really receive the things the community can give them.”