By Abby Shaffer
On July 22, Rummel Church of the Brethren had our fourth (fifth?) annual clothing giveaway. During the preceding week, we accepted donations of clothing and shoes from our small community. We experienced an amazing outpouring of generosity in the form of clothing for infants, children, women, and men. Many of our neighbors who brought donations told us they were thankful that they could help to bless their neighbors!
Several of our church members (and friends) spent many hours to separate, fold, and display all the items we received. On Saturday, we estimate that 100 to 150 people stopped by the church to “shop” and nobody left empty-handed. It was so busy that we were unable to get an accurate count. People filled garbage bags, one after the other, and still the piles of clothes remained!
All the items we had left were given to St. Francis Sharing and Caring Ministry and Thrift Store in Hollsopple, Pa.
Our congregation was blessed–not only by the tremendous outpouring of donations we received but by the ability we were given to assist our neighbors in need.
— Abby Shaffer is co-pastor of Rummel Church of the Brethren in Windber, Pa.
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Find more Church of the Brethren news:
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- Brethren Volunteer Service Unit 339 begins service
- Global Food Initiative grants support ministries of congregations in Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania
- EDF grants support rebuilding in North Carolina and Western Maryland, aid Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, the DRC, Nigeria, Venezuela, Cuba
- Health Care Education Scholarships are awarded to 10 recipients