Lynchburg church creates holiday meal packages for hungry families

Credit: Parker Michels-Boyce/The News & Advance

Working in an assembly line, volunteers Michael and Jessica Weeks help pack boxes with canned vegetables Sunday at Lynchburg First Church of the Nazarene. Last year, the church packed and distributed 300 boxes to people in need.This year they hope to double that.

To receive a Christmas Dinner Box or donate call: (434) 238-4943 between 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

By: Amy Trent | The News & Advance
Published: December 06, 2010

The hardest part of giving is not having enough, so this year, Lynchburg’s First Church of the Nazarene is doubling its efforts.

“Our food pantry has been increasingly busy,” said Rusanna Cook, who is heading the church’s second annual Christmas Dinner Box program. Crews began working in October to get the program off the ground.

Last year, the church gave away 300 boxes to hungry families in the area.

“Even with 300 boxes, we were having to turn some people away,” Cook said. At the end of that event, volunteers decided to make the next one even bigger.

The goal is to give away 600 Christmas dinners.

Hungry families must sign up to receive a box by Dec. 16. Boxes will be distributed at the church at 3 and 6 p.m. Dec. 19. Distribution will be preceded by a brief service. “We as a church, as Christians, we decided that there are just some things that are not OK, and being hungry is one of those things,” Lynchburg First Church of the Nazarene Pastor Stephen Willis said.

“It’s a challenge for us to double that, but we just felt like we didn’t want to have to turn away people this year,” Willis said.

The church established partnerships with radio stations, local churches, businesses and individuals to help increase the program.

The church is collecting donations of canned goods and traditional holiday meal additions such as stuffing, hams and desserts. “It takes a lot of cans and non-perishable items to fill these boxes,” Cook said. The church will purchase items that can’t be gathered through donations.

The hams alone are expected to cost the church $3,600.

On Dec. 11, two Chick-fil-A locations in Lynchburg are holding food drives to garner donations for the program.

Anyone who brings two cans of food to Chick-fil-A’s River Ridge or Wards Road location will get one free small milkshake.

Those interested in participating or donating can do so by contacting the church, which is accepting donations of food items, money and volunteers.

The Christmas Dinner Box program is “an awesome experience,” said Amanda Hamlin, a church member. “I’m excited to be able to be part of handing out the boxes and to see the faces of the people that I’ve been talking to on the phone.”

Lynchburg church creates holiday meal packages for hungry families

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