ST. CLAIRSVILLE — There was an incredible response from the community to make possible the St. Clairsville Council of Churches’ Food Pantry Christmas Project, which is all about helping people in need in the St Clairsville-Richland School District.
The St. Clairsville Council of Churches is made up of representatives from many of the churches in this district. They operate the Food Pantry, Transient Fund, Care Account and the Christmas Project. This year’s Christmas Project was held at the First Presbyterian Church, Calvary Church and the Food Pantry on Dec. 9.
Gifts and monetary donations were received from individuals, businesses, churches, and organizations for this Christmas Project. The St. Clairsville Sunrise Rotary Club sponsored Pack the Truck at both St. Clairsville Riesbeck’s and Walmart Parking lots with Thomas Auto Centers providing the vehicle. Customers purchased pre-packaged bags of necessities for these needy families. Many businesses and organizations including St. Clairsville Kroger support the Food Pantry all year long.
A special Christmas Concert, “A Gift of Christmas” was held at the Thoburn United Methodist Church on Dec. 6 (organized by Jo Ann Jones) with monetary and canned food donations being accepted to benefit the St. Clairsville Council of Churches Christmas Project. It was a packed house and featured Ron Retzer, Dr. Dan Jones, Pastor Adam Davis, Chad Smith, Roger Hoard, Michael St. James, Jamie Peck, Dennis Craig, Jo Ann Jones, Pastor Ken Gifford and Mark Statler.
AARP collected and donated lots of toys. Belmont Savings Bank donated cloth tote bags for each family. The Comfy Quilters made rice bags for the corn hole games. Many very caring and giving folks donated not only items for the Christmas Project but monetary donations to purchase other items.
People who had come to the Food Pantry one day each month to receive food had the opportunity to register their families for this special event for either the 9:30 a.m., noon or 2:30 p.m. service at The First Presbyterian Church. Registered were many individuals representing 140 families with 128 children.
Ken Williams, Food Pantry coordinator, welcomed people to the services at the First Presbyterian Church. He wished all of them “Merry Christmas” and gave the folks directions for the distribution in Fellowship Hall at Calvary Church and at the Food Pantry. At all three services, Pastor Dave Ratliff, East Richland Friends Church, gave an inspiring and wonderful message. At the first service, thanks to Eric Woods and the two young ladies from East Richland Christian School who provided music. “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” were led by Jo Ann Jones in the second service.
Williams had prepared tags for each family who registered that had name, number in family, whether they were a new family and boys’ and girls’ ages. These were used by the volunteers in Fellowship Hall to assist each one. Depending on their family size, they were given a new blanket, pillow, towel and wash cloth and then could select gifts such as new children’s clothing (socks, mittens, underwear, head bands) personal care items (including shampoo, deodorant, bath soap, tissues, tooth paste, etc.), food selections that they didn’t usually receive monthly, new and gently used clothing, toys (including 90 Beanie Babies that had been donated, stuffed toys, dolls kitchen set, rocking horse, trucks, crayons, books, puzzles, school supplies, various games and miscellaneous items), housewares, Christmas and other seasonal decorations, gift wrap, cards, coffee mugs, candles, electric appliances, cleaning products, wall decorations, etc.
Cheryl Martin led the gift area effort for the children who were pre-registered this year and adopted by individuals from various churches. The many individuals from the various churches reached out to those in need when they adopted the children by not only the gifts but the carefully wrapped packages.
Belmont Correctional Institute inmates made 115 beautiful wooden toys for the children this year. Employees Joe Mayberry (wood shop) and Sam Shutway (grounds) delivered the toys on Wednesday. Employees work with the prisoners all year long to make these toys. New toys this year, among others were beautiful wooden boxes containing dominos made from Corian, and corn hole boards. Other toys included flatbed trucks, rocking chairs, benches, puzzles, crayon holders, tool boxes, cars, trucks, fire trucks, piggy banks, toddler stack puzzles, etc. This project by the prison began in 1995. Some of the inmates have children of their own but all of the inmates are filled with a lot of love, pride and satisfaction as they make these gifts for children. Toys are made from scrap materials from the maintenance department at the prison, materials donated from staff members and others. There is no cost to the prison.
The last stop for all recipients was the Food Pantry where Williams waited for them. Students from ERCS played a big part again this year for this special Christmas Project. Faculty member Becky Kraly, along with an adult chaperone, Amy Kotson, brought 11 Fourth grade students to help pack on Thursday. At the Food Pantry, this energetic group of kids packed boxes and bags of food in record time. Most of the time as they packed, they sang. They then went up to Fellowship Hall to eat their lunch where Kraly gave the invocation. After eating their lunch in Fellowship Hall and before leaving, they sang Christmas songs for the adult volunteers there who really appreciated their Christmas tunes.
On Distribution Day, 13 eighth grade students from ERCS were accompanied by Melanie Saksa, Eric Woods, Matthew Cummins, Mike Conners and Sherrie Cottrell. Students helped individuals and families by carrying their packages for them in Fellowship Hall. The folks were so appreciative of their help.
It was such an outpouring of love and concern for those less fortunate in our community and such a blessing to all who participated in this special project — both those who received and those who gave. It is a beautiful thing in bringing people together, a real blessing to those who come and many folks expressed their appreciation for such a project.
The St. Clairsville Council of Churches Food Pantry operates entirely on donations from numerous businesses, churches, organizations, schools, and individuals. It was started in1983 when Lou Shirbish, a member of the Thoburn United Methodist Church, felt there were people in our local community or those living in the St. Clairsville-Richland School District who really did need assistance with food. Under her leadership, the Food Pantry came into existence. Wilma Campbell, a member of Calvary Presbyterian church, was a member of this original group under Lou’s leadership. It has operated every year since 1983 with the exception of a couple of years.
Over the years it has grown from just a Food Pantry to what it is today. After several locations, a permanent cement block building was built in 1998, paid entirely by local individuals and organizations, and has been the “Food Pantry” ever since. The Food Pantry would not be available for those in need throughout the year as well as the Christmas Project without the love and generosity of this community.
There were 65 volunteers from eight churches who did anything and everything that needed done — hauling supplies to Calvary Church, directing traffic on a very cold windy Friday, carrying tables from everywhere in the church to Fellowship Hall, arranging articles on Thursday and then helping those who came Friday. The volunteers involved also donated a large number of items.
On Distribution Day, George Krebs led the volunteers in Fellowship Hall in a prayer of thanksgiving stressing, “The reason we are here today is to celebrate the birth of Jesus.” He prayed that the Lord would let everyone who walks through the doors receive a blessing and thanked the Lord for the blessing all who work here receive. These volunteers at this year’s Christmas Project brought love, joy and hope to the 140 families and 128 children.
Many volunteers have helped for a number of years and there were a few first timers. Volunteers came from Calvary Presbyterian, Christ the King Lutheran, Church of Christ, East Richland Evangelical Friends, First Christian, First Presbyterian, St. Mary’s, and Thoburn United Methodist. Those volunteers certainly reached out to those families in need.
Volunteers with the St. Clairsville Council of Churches Food Pantry said they appreciate all those who helped in any way to make this Christmas Project such a beautiful and special event. To make a donation or learn how to become involved in helping others at the Food Pantry, call Williams at 740-695-1734.
