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An
invitation to prayer
Pastoral
Pondering: Jesus said `Do this and you shall live'
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A gift to the local community |
Gifts range from infant toys to tools at the Church
of the Nazarene gift closet |
By Schellene Clendenin, Newberg
Graphic reporter
E-mail Schellene at sclendenin@eaglenewspapers.com |
To get to the gift
closet at the Church of the Nazarene one must climb ladder-like
stairs to the attic, walk across a balcony overlooking the sanctuary
and walk inside a large storage room.
Dominating one wall of the rather large room are a series of
shelves holding dolls, games, toys and jewelry for children, as well
as bath products, books and tools for teens and adults.
The gift closet – which provides wrapped gifts to people of all
ages based on need – was begun about a year ago, said Carrie
Nichols, one of the coordinators of the project.
“Anyone who needs a gift, we just pick one out and give it,”
Nichols said. “One man cried. Some want to give back.”
In addition to the gifts, the church provides a Bible and a packet
of gift cards.
About a year ago, when Love INC (In the Name of Christ) was just
starting up, the group asked local churches what services they were
willing to provide for people in the community. Love INC is a
clearinghouse that matches community groups to people in need.
Nichols and a ladies group at the church discussed what they should
do and prayed for an answer before settling on the gift closet.
Since then Love INC has sent to the church as many as eight
families. Recently, however, the church moved the presents to Love
INC for distribution because recipients were having trouble finding
transportation to church’s Old Yamhill Road location.
“We get weekly requests for gifts,” she said, adding that Polly
Siler, coordinator of Love INC, sends the names, ages and gender of
the recipient via e-mail once a week. The gifts are wrapped and
dropped off at the Love INC office, 118 W. First St.
“Birthdays come in bunches,” she said. One family of four had
birthdays, for varied ages of children, all in one week.
The families are always thankful and gracious.
“It’s fun to do, to pick out a gift for someone,” Nichols said. The
only catch is the wrappers can only guess at the tastes of the
people receiving the presents, “We hope we pick what they like.”
The church will accept donations of new gifts and often needs items
that light up, tools, electronic games, CD players, sports
equipment, bath items and contemporary toys such as Spiderman. They
are also in need of batteries and wrapping paper, both of which go
pretty fast.
“The church is abundant in giving,” she said. “It’s been fun.” |
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From
April 30, 2005, Newberg Graphic
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