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Asking for more than candy on this Halloween |
2nd Street Community Church will send volunteers
door to door to collect food for the hungry |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com
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On Halloween night people have come to
expect little hands knocking on their doors, bags extended, hopeful
smiles on painted faces. But some of the hands ringing doorbells
this Halloween won’t be as small, their owners won’t be painted and
the treats they will ask for will be of the nonperishable kind.
From 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Oct. 31, volunteers will be going door to
door in Newberg and Dundee asking folks for food to feed the hungry.
The idea, named “No One Goes Hungry,” began with the 40 days of
Community Strength program at 2nd Street Community Church. The group
asked, “What if?”
What if the city of Newberg could collect enough food to feed
the hungry throughout the months when need is the highest? What if
no one in Newberg went hungry, if only for a while?
“As we talked, we came up with an idea to wipe out hunger in this
community for the holiday season,” said Pastor Thayne Thompson.
The group mobilized, asking Judy Christensen, director for Newberg
F.I.S.H. (Friends In Service to Humanity), for advice. Her answer
wasn’t encouraging. She told Thompson that if something weren’t done
soon, the program may go out of business.
“We wanted to find out how to partner (with F.I.S.H.),” he said.
“We didn’t realize how great was the need for food.”
In 2003 F.I.S.H. provided 4,319 food boxes that contained enough
food for 16,215 people in the community. In 2000 the program
distributed 2707 boxes.
Clearly, Thompson said, the need is increasing. In addition the
program was so strapped for funds it was unable to help everyone who
sought aid.
“They weren’t able to meet all the needs,” said Jerry Duckworth,
worship director for the church. “We’re just getting started and
there is a great need. We want to meet the need not just for the
holiday; part of our goal is to be able to network with the
community.”
F.I.S.H. also helps people pay utility bills and rent and provides
overnight vouchers for those who need them, as well as funds for
gasoline to drive to medical appointments, Thompson said, a service
for which the program no longer has the funds.
“If (the public) wants to make a (monetary) donation, we encourage
them to make it to F.I.S.H.,” Thompson said. “We will not be
collecting money.”
A third way to help is to volunteer with the program. “They
need some new volunteers to help distribute food,” he said.
Volunteers are also being sought to help collect food for the
church on Oct. 31. Anyone interested in volunteering may contact the
church at 503-538-9761. |
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From
Oct. 16, 2004,
Newberg Graphic
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