Thank you to all of the North Carolina Cooperative Baptist churches and individuals who made the “Meals for the Mountains” such a success. We completed the project on July 31 with a set of clothes for each child. In addition, we were able to provide each family with a gift card thanks to some generous donations for that purpose. The cards were offered to help families get ready for school and bridge the weeks until kids are able to received breakfast and lunch when schools are back in session.
So many people contributed that it would be difficult to thank each of them individually, but I want to give a particular thanks to First Baptist Church Lumberton. They had people make three trips from Lumberton to Mars Hill to deliver the items they gathered. They brought 300 snack bags for the weekly backpack distribution and one of my favorite stories was that they packed the bags during their worship service bringing a spiritual component to the gift and prayers for the recipient.
I also am so appreciative of the distribution sites that worked tirelessly to serve the families who received the food and other gifts. There was less than a 10% attrition rate of those who started with the project and that speaks to the compassion and dignity with which they were treated in their interactions.
Thanks to the team of interns and co-workers, Rev. Regina Johnson, Rev. Stella Perrin and our delivery person, Bill Welsch, who drove all over western NC at his own expense each week in his Lord’s Harvest Truck. It was a great effort and compassionate ministry.
Thank You CBFNC!
-Wanda Kidd
CBFNC Helene Disaster Response Director
