Gladden wins award
Theresa Gladden has won numerous awards over the years, but none has meant more to her than receiving this year’s Andrew Murray Peacemaking Award from the Synod of the Trinity of the Presbyterian Church. The Synod of the Trinity covers Pennsylvania, West Virginia and a portion of Ohio.
It presents one peacemaker award in each presbytery within the synod.
Gladden was nominated by the Redstone Presbytery, which covers Fayette, Westmoreland, Cambria and Somerset counties.
“Every year they present one award to each presbytery. They have to be in service to the community, being a positive impact in the community,” said the Rev. David Clark of Fort Burd Church in Redstone Township.
Gladden was nominated by Rev. Clark’s church.
“Theresa has helped the community fight against hunger and to become independent. She’s also served a lot of older people who need the fellowship.
“When you think of peacemaking, you think of someone going to Ireland and trying to get the Protestants and Catholics together. We don’t think of the little things,” Clark said.
Rev. Clark said the Brownsville Soup Kitchen, which Gladden has run for the past 18 years, is open to everyone, with no one turned away, creating an atmosphere of acceptance.
“I hope and pray we won’t need any more soup kitchens or clothing banks,” Gladden said upon receiving the award.
“We’re hoping every day that things will change.”
Gladden said she was surprised by the nomination, since she isn’t Presbyterian and didn’t even know the award existed prior to receiving it.
“I’m Lutheran, but I’m flexible,” Gladden said with a smile.
Gladden is up early every morning to be at the Brownsville Soup Kitchen to prepare lunches for about 70 people Monday through Friday.
For Thanksgiving Day Gladden planned to serve 225 meals either to people at the soup kitchen or delivered to shut-ins by volunteers.
Gladden is also in the midst of her annual fund drive for winter coat vouchers for children in the area. When Eunice Yang of the synod’s Social Concerns Committee presented Gladden with a plaque and a check for $200 from the Presbytery to match $200 given to her by the synod, Gladden’s first thought was of the children.
“This will buy a lot of coats for kids,” Gladden said.
The Andrew Murray Peacemaking Award is reserved for individuals, groups, churches or organizations that exemplify the peacemaking Christ calls us to do. According to the nomination form, nominations should be based on “creativity, purpose and variety, perseverance despite obstacles and/or outcome of the peacemaking endeavor.”
Gladden’s past honors have included the national Jane Thomas Award through Community Action, being named “Person of the Year” by the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce, and recognition by the Fayette County Commissioners.