NORWICH – At 6:30 p.m. tonight the Norwich YMCA will host Helping Hands Norwich for a second community donation night.

The charity event gives away food, toiletries and basic living assistance items to any who attend.

Event Coordinator Lorri Race said residents coming to receive are encouraged to show up no sooner than 6:30 p.m. due to freezing temperatures, and that tonights weather is calling for temperatures below 10 degrees.

Race said due to an increase in donations, an additional room has been added to the setup. She said she hopes this will allow people to get out of the cold faster and move through the line quicker.

To Race, this night is not just about giving back to the community, but building community relationships, recalling how she watched volunteers and community members connect with each other during the night of giving.

"This isn't just about people getting things they need, it's also about making friends and supporting each other," said Race.

Since the first community night, Race was "amazed and humbled" by the amount of community support she received.

"One of the missions that I have is to spread this contagious feeling of wanting to give and that's exactly what's happened. It was incredible how many people reached out to me wanting to help," she said.

Race said she has not needed to go looking for donations or volunteers. Schools, city government, businesses, and residents have all come to her asking how they can help.

"I have had people contact me and say is there anything you need. Can we give you a donation or our time," said Race. "People don't see what goes on behind the scene and what it takes to coordinate the event. Its a huge community effort."

According to Race, she has had a lot of help with sorting, picking up, and dropping off donations. Community members are investing time in creating items and finding their own ways to collect donations.

"People have been creative in how they’re getting donations and taken initiative on their own. It's amazing how people have taken this into their own hands to build this into something more," said Race. "This isn't about soliciting businesses for donations. I don't ask people for donations or to volunteer. People have taken it upon themselves to step up and support each other."

At the last event, race states they served around 200 people, and she is hoping for a great turn out again. She stated that she received a lot of feedback from the community saying they didn't know how much of an impact this event would make in the area.

"So many people said they didn't realize how much of need there is. But this is doing exactly what I hope it would do by spreading kindness and awareness," said Race.

Race also emphasizes that this event is for everyone, regardless of their income or social status. Their are no barriers to accessing donation items, you simply have show up.

"Thank you to the enormous amount of volunteers I have. Thank you for all the support from the community. This wouldn't be possible with out you," said Race.