Blainesburg church holds food drive
Blainesburg Bible Church, Fifth and Washington, recently conducted its second annual Care & Share food drive for the Brownsville Soup Kitchen’s Thanksgiving & Christmas Basket program. The non-perishable items were presented to Theresa Gladden, soup kitchen coordinator, at the church’s Thanksgiving Sunday service.
Officials said, “The congregation feels the way to give thanks this season is to share with others. Last year, the church helped to provide items for 50 Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets for individuals and families.’
Gladden said, “I can’t believe you’ve given twice as much as last year.’
The Brownsville Soup Kitchen has been helping the community for 19 years. In 2003, it served 18,000 meals to 232 individuals, provided aid to 102 families and conducted four used clothing giveaways.
The soup kitchen served 180 Easter meals, 230 Thanksgiving meals and 250 Christmas meals.
In addition to distributing holiday food baskets, they delivered Thanksgiving and Christmas meals to shut-ins at Mulligan Manor and National City Bank Apartments in Brownsville. They also started two programs to benefit children called Toys for Kids and Coats for Kids. Toys were provided for 385 children and 295 new coasts were purchased.
Some children have written back thanking the soup kitchen for the first new coat they ever owned.
Anyone wishing to donate non-perishable food items can contact Gladden at 724-785-6731.