Thursday, November 20, 2014
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Convoy of Hope, which will truck in two tractor-trailers filled with groceries to distribute this weekend, drives home the point that people who are hungry and hurting can get help and hope.
Pastor Al Yanno of Metro Assembly of God, 2530 South Ave., said the international relief organization will be showcased during two Day of Hope events Saturday in the Mahoning Valley. Groceries will be distributed, meals provided and family-oriented activities offered. Activities will take place at Wilson Middle School in Youngstown and Salem High School. Convoy of Hope, a faith-based organization, partners with local churches, government agencies and other nonprofits in its humanitarian mission.
Pastor Yanno said the Convoy of Hope events coincide with a Reach Conference of the Assembly of God and Ohio Youth Ministry Network on Friday and Saturday at Victory Christian Center in Coitsville. The event will attract some 1,000 sixth- through 12th-grade students, young adults, youth leaders and pastors, parents and lead pastors.
Pastor Yanno said as part of “learning to reach out to others,” the conference participants will be involved in the Day of Hope events. “The young people learn about being involved in the community and invested in families,” the pastor said. Conference participants hail from all over Ohio.
The Day of Hope is meant to be a “day of celebration,” Pastor Yanno said. In Youngstown, the event will be similar to “Keep the Peace” rallies that NOW Youngstown and C.I.R.V. sponsored during the summer in areas affected by violence.
The pastor emphasized that because the event is just before Thanksgiving, it will reflect the family-oriented holiday. “We’ll have games for kids like we do during the summer,” he said. There also will be family photos, in anticipation of the Christmas holiday.
Weather permitting, Reach participants will go out into the surrounding neighborhoods to do a cleanup.
Pastor Yanno said the Day of Hope will bring families and the community together.
The Day of Hope in Salem will be similar to the Youngstown event.
Pastor Jonathan Dickenson, student life pastor at Realife Church of Salem, said social-service agencies in Columbiana County will participate. He said fliers have been distributed at churches and other sites to alert families in need to the event.
“This is about being involved in the community and reaching out to meet community needs,” Pastor Dickenson said. “We want to feed people physically but also feed the soul.”
The pastor said helping people follows the example that Jesus set for His followers by being of service to others. That will be the lesson for Reach youth, he said, to move away from the “me” emphasis and focus on the needs of others.
Pastor Dickenson said Reach youth will do a clean-up in downtown Salem, weather permitting. The city has provided 250 bags for the project.
TWO SITES
A Day of Hope is planned Saturday at two locations in Mahoning and Columbiana counties. The events will offer food giveaways and other family-oriented activities.
Wilson Middle School, 2725 Gibson St., Youngstown: The event will start at 1 p.m. with a giveaway of groceries, a carnival for children, lunch, family photos and music. Convoy of Hope, NOW Youngstown, Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and Youngstown City Schools are sponsors.
Salem High School, 1200 E. Sixth St., Salem: The event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. with a hot meal, grocery distribution, hair cuts and family photos. Social service agencies such as Job and Family Services, Family Recovery, Help Me Grow, Heartbeat of Columbiana County and Ohio Means Jobs will have displays. Convoy of Hope and Realife Church of Salem, 12824 Salem-Warren Road, Salem, are sponsors; Pastor Jonathan Dickenson is coordinator. For information or to volunteer, call the church at 330-332-0011.
Convoy of Hope: The faith-based, international humanitarian organization was founded by the Donaldson family in 1994 and is based in Springfield, Mo. The family faced financial issues in the aftermath of the death of their father, Harold, who was killed by a drunken driver in 1969. Because people in the Donaldsons’ community helped them, they were inspired to create the nonprofit organization to help others. Convoy of Hope partners with churches, businesses, government agencies and other non-profit groups. Visit www.convoyofhope.org.