The Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA’s fourth annual winter outerwear drive has been its most successful ever, despite organizer’s fears that giving would be light this year.

“The donations we received are overwhelming,” organizer Ann Dzwonchyk said. “Our community really stepped up this year.”

Donations have tripled, from 300 to 400 in 2008 to more than 900 coats this year, all to be distributed to Valley families in the coming weeks.

“I’m touched and very overwhelmed with the outpouring,” Dzwonchyk said. “Every day people were bringing in boxes and bags of coats — so many community groups, churches and schools put out donation boxes this year. Groups just called and said they were dropping off coats — not just one or two but 50 or 100.”

Though Dzwonchyk first feared the economic climate would curb contributions, she now believes it actually helped the cause.

“I think maybe people are a little more aware of how many people and families have struggled this year with the economy and job loss,” Dzwonchyk said.

All donated items — 900 coats, and 600 scarves, gloves and the like — were dry-cleaned free by Steininger’s Laundry and Dry Cleaning, of Selinsgrove, a service Chuck Steininger has donated for the past four years.

“I want to thank the Susquehanna Valley for all the donations,” Steininger said Friday. “It’s great, especially in some bad economic times. The Valley really stepped it up.”

Due to the amount of coats received, the YMCA is extending the give-away dates to three days instead of one as in previous years.

Coat giveaways will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday at the YMCA Degenstein Youth Center, North Fourth Street, Sunbury.