Greetings Everyone!
When we first came to Cross Road Baptist Church in Bangor, Pa, we quickly became involved in a "new" (to us, anyway) ministry called "Angel Food" Ministries. It's a program designed to help families (no income limits) stretch their food budgets in these hard economic times. It is great food too! Our church is one of the Host sites in the area. The main Pick-Up Site is in Allentown. Once a month, our volunteers (including Mitchell) drive to Allentown on a Friday afternoon to pick up the orders that come from our community and bring it back to our church. Then, once it gets here, we have several volunteers waiting to help unload the food boxes. This month we added to our orders for the first time some people at the Episcopal Apts. So we had some of our people take those orders directly to the apts. To our pleasant surprise, the details all went very smoothly. In the meantime, the rest of us organized the orders at the church and waited for 7:00 PM when the people came to pick up their November orders. Following is some pictures we took of the process on November 19th..
Brian Dwinal helps to unload the truck at the church at 6:00 PM
Brian Dwinal and Mitchell begin unloading the food boxes from Harold Siegel's truck
to take to the fellowship hall in the church.
Thanks to Harold Siegel, for providing your truck!
"Pastor Mitch" and Jim Patrick unloading another stack of food boxes
Rachel Dwinal, Pastor Mitch, and Jane Siegel
Kay Mack carries a box of food to the correct table
Nancy Bair comes to help us too!
Lynne Bair & Jane Siegel gets the various boxes organized in the right spot
Jim Patrick & Jane Siegel
Brian Dwinal brings in more boxes for Kay Mack and Lynne Bair
Rachel Dwinal, Phil Smith, and Mitchell off-loading MORE food boxes!
Bouwe Postma...."Watch your step, Bouwe!"
More Organizing of the food boxes after their delivery.
Bud Shoemaker makes sure all of our customers
gets to the right table to pick up their orders
gets to the right table to pick up their orders
"Pastor Mitch" stands ready to assist those that need help
carrying their boxes to their cars
carrying their boxes to their cars
Seated, L-R: Nancy Bair, Ginny Mack, and Anita Patti greet our first customers
Gail Shook and Diane keeps "Pastor Mitch" 'straight' on the orders
"Ok, Pastor, let's see that receipt!"
Brian & Rachel stand ready to greet our customers
Brian & Rachel also volunteered to go to the Episcopal Apts earler in the evening.
Thank You so much, Brian & Rachel!
Kay Mack & Bud Shoemaker are also ready for our first customers
Ready for Check-Out!
Fay Patrick; Daughter, Bonnie Pysher; and Bonnie's grandson, Jonathan
Phil Smith (with hand truck) stands ready to help some Seniors to their car with their orders.
Waiting for the Customers!
Far Left-Right: Dean Pysher & grandson, Jonathan; Jim Patrick; Jane Siegel;
Don Mack; Bowue Postma
Don Mack; Bowue Postma
Gail Shook and daughter, Rachel Dwinal; and Diane
A customer for Rachel and Diane
And another customer!
Sometimes, it gets a little hectic, but before you know it, we're all done!
The "Check-In" Ladies
Anita Patti & Ginny Mack were playing "Camera-Shy" with Wanda
Oh, C'mon Ladies! Give us a smile!
Well,...ok, this is a little better!
Seriously, we have enjoyed being a part of this wonderful outreach ministry. We have met many new friends and, as you might be able to tell, it's a great time of fellowship with each other and the community!
Cross Road Baptist is also involved in another ministry that reaches beyond our community and around the world...Samaritan Purse's "OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD" We had 13 shoeboxes to send out...which is good for our economically hard hit people. Thanks to everyone who could help!
We also had a Christmas Tree with "red heart" leaves that had our American Baptist Women's Mission "White Cross" suggested Christmas needs listed on each one.
Many of us took a "heart" leaf and brought in the item needed to be put under the tree.
Those gift items will be delivered to Valley Forge headquarters sometime this week.
This past week began our Advent Services at Cross Road Baptist. Our theme for the next four weeks is "The Christmas Touch"..."Making Christ-like Connections During the Holidays" The very first week's theme is "Touch Your Neighbors". We believe Cross Road Baptist has already begun doing that in so many ways...keeping in mind the question to Jesus: "Who Is My Neighbor?" Obviously, we can touch those right next to us, in our community and beyond. The above missions mentioned are but a few ways Cross Road Baptist intentionally reaches out to "Touch Our Neighbors". We feel it a privilege to serve along side of them! Happy Advent, Everyone!In His Service,
Wanda & Mitchell
