Blessing Our Community
“FREELY YOU RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE” (MATT. 10:8B).
Last Wednesday, Dec. 1, a crew of believers gathered to stuff blessings into one-gallon Ziploc bags. Here is a pic of the finished product: 75 bags filled so full they were hard to close. You’ll also see the crew (even me, reflected in the mirrored window). It was Missy’s b’day, she came anyway (that’s her balloon by my elbow).
This was more than one congregation’s effort. At least 9 loving hearts from outside our small family pitched in with goods and/or finances. I am overwhelmed by this community’s generosity. In addition to more than enough provisions to fill these bags (we have several boxes of excess, mainly protein bars), we received at least $300 in outside funding. Some of this went for the blessing bags, the rest went for the backpacks that we distributed (more about this shortly).
We filled those one-gallon bags with more than one might imagine: water, juice box, various protein bars, dried fruit, trail mix, jerky, gloves, socks, ponchos, floss sticks, toothpaste and brushes, chap stick, and tissue packs, along with candy canes and small candy bars. Well organized, our assembly line took only 50 minutes to complete those 75 bags!
Fifty of the bags were stowed into 50 new backpacks, which also had other cold-weather items.
The following Monday, Dec. 6, people from at least three different fellowships got together and made 50 sack lunches. We took those lunches and backpacks to the Ray of Hope parking area and distributed them to homeless Auburnites gathered there. With some we prayed; to all we offered God’s blessing. It was a good evening.
Thank you, all who helped,
Rod MacArthur
206.949.0325
rod_macarthur@comcast.net