Generosity Is The Prize In These Cereal Boxes
Members Fill Cereal Bowls for Hungry Children of Lawrence
 by The Rev. Mr. Edward Deyton, Senior Pastor
For years the Ballard Vale United Church spread its community work over a number of local organizations, making it a low impact player alongside other larger churches and organizations. Because we are a smaller church, we decided awhile ago that we were going to concentrate our efforts and take on projects where we would be the major resource, thus saying to our people: 'if we don't all lean into this, it won't get done.'
We also asked ourselves what stirred us up the most and the answer came out: food. We have a number of wonderful cooks in our church, so church dinners are always something special. We decided to extend our table to reach others, and the slogan "Feed the Need" was cooked up.
In our work with the "Neighbors in Need" community program in nearby Lawrence, we learned that because cereal is so expensive, it is seldom on their food bank shelves. The director was worried that children who ordinarily would receive school breakfasts would have nothing to eat during school breaks.
The congregation committed to fill the food bank shelves with cereal and decided as a church that it would not just be a contribution among other contributions, but a partnership for meeting this particular need. The director, Linda Zimmerman, actually came to a service just to see and hear what we do.
Because we wanted the children involved as well, every Sunday dozens of the donated boxes of cereal are brought to the front of the church. During announcements, the children march through the aisles to the vestibule while singing a "Cereal Song." In the vestibule is a large wooden "ark" that holds the boxes.
The ark is emptied about three times a year, and the boxes are taken to the food bank about a week before school vacation. Although we do other "Feed the Need" projects, like Christmas baskets, and Nicaraguan school programs, the members seem to enjoy this one the best and have actually complained when we have taken a break from cereal for the other programs.
To "Feed the Need" is our hope, goal, and mission at Ballard Vale United Church. We strive to feed the needs of our members through spiritual growth, education and fellowship. We strive to feed the need in Lawrence, the Merrimack Valley and the world beyond.
For more information, Ed Deyton can be contacted at deyton@comcast.net
Share Your Still Speaking Story
 Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.
You may reprint this story by including the following line in your article:
"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"
|
