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CUMP visits Operation Blessing
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the 4-year-old class at Canfield United Methodist Preschool visited Operation Blessing, located in the Canfield Presbyterian Church, and helped fill grocery bags for the next distribution day May 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The 4-year-old class of the Canfield United Methodist Preschool visited Operation Blessing, located in the Canfield Presbyterian Church, bringing food items to donate to the food pantry May 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Operation Blessing Director Julie Kercher welcomed the help of the 4-year-old class from Canfield United Methodist Preschool in filling grocery bags for distribution May 4.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.Members of the 4-year-old class at Canfield United Methodist Preschool helped fill grocery bags full of food during a field trip to Operation Blessing May 4.
By ABBY SLANKER
The 4-year-old class of the Canfield United Methodist Preschool took a field trip to Operation Blessing, located in the Canfield Presbyterian Church, to get a better idea of where their food donations go and who they benefit May 4. The children bring donations to the preschool twice a month, which are then donated to Operation Blessing.
“Canfield United Methodist Preschool has Chapel twice a month, during which the children bring in donations. Pastor Susan leads this, telling a Bible story that corresponds with the theme of the month. The themes were selected based on items Operation Blessing packs in a grocery bag for their clients,” said Janet Williams, Canfield United Methodist Preschool administrator.
Operation Blessing Director Julie Kercher greeted the children and their teachers, Ellen Bennett and Lisa Helmick, who all brought along a food donation for the organization. Kercher explained the food pantry’s process to the children and then had them help her fill some grocery bags for the next distribution day.
“I am going to have you help me fill some grocery bags which we will distribute to people who need a some help,” Kercher told the children.
Kercher split the children into groups of three with a box of food items in front of two of the children and an empty grocery bag in front of the third child. Kercher then held up a food item and the children had to find it in their boxes and then hand it to the third child to place in the grocery bag.
“Talk about teamwork. Thank you for your help. I am going to tell the people who receive these bags of food that I had some very special help filling them up,” Kercher said.
Kercher also gave the children stickers that read, ‘I helped feed a family today at Operation Blessing Canfield.’
“We encourage the families to engage their child in shopping for their contribution to Operation Blessing through Chapel. This is a tangible way for children to understand the faith concept of caring for others,” Williams said.
“Operation Blessing serves all of Mahoning County and other than donations from the community, we buy our food items from Rulli Brothers. They also provide the grocery bags we use distribute the food,” Kercher said.
Williams added the children also were able to experience an aspect of their Creative Curriculum studies during their field trip.
“As an added bonus on their field trip, the children were able to see the progress on the new library across the street from the Presbyterian Church. One of the Creative Curriculum studies is about buildings, so it is good for them to see the progress,” Williams said.