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Lutheran churches collaborate to warm, feed those in need
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The image of students dancing around at the bus stop in cold weather because they had no gloves to keep their hands warm or hats to keep body heat from escaping moved Lily Ekong.
Turning her concern into action, she and her husband, the Rev. Hosea J. Ekong of Victory Lutheran Church, 2110 Glenwood Ave., organized a small hat, gloves and scarf collection with a couple of nearby churches.
The small project has blossomed into a bigger effort involving eight Lutheran churches in Mahoning Valley Lutheran Church Association that are part of the Missouri Synod. The churches are collecting donations through Sunday, when all the donations will go to Victory.
Lily Ekong said she will “make sets” of a hat, gloves and scarf from the individual donations.
That’s in preparation for Victory’s monthly food distribution from 9 to 11 a.m. next Saturday in anticipation of Christmas.
Along with the food, Lily Ekong said there also will be clothing and miscellaneous items available. “We want overstuffed bags like we had at Thanksgiving,” she said. She’s working on including a ham or chicken in each bag along with other food such as green beans, carrots, potatoes, bread and sweets. “I need to see my families fed,” she said.
The Ekongs said residents in ZIP codes 44502, 44507 and 44511 may participate in the food pantry at Victory. They must register in advance of the distribution by calling the church at 330-788-0353. Those applying must show a photo identification and a bill or something with their current address.
The food distribution is generally from 9 to 11 a.m. the fourth Saturday of the month except in November and December, when it is the third Saturday, to give out food before the holidays.
Over the years, Pastor Ekong said, clients of the food pantry have changed. Years ago, many recipients were senior citizens and single mothers with children. Now, he pointed out, many are single men raising their grandchildren because the parents are in jail or on drugs.
“We’ve also seen people from the middle class who lost their jobs,” Pastor Ekong said, noting women who are heads of households with children also receive food aid. “These are challenging times.”
“The people who come are so appreciative of what they are receiving,” Pastor Ekong said.
Lily Ekong said the church gets food from Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley. Part of that program is a senior breakfast box, which is given out at the monthly distribution. There are income guidelines, and recipients must be 60 or older and live in one of the three ZIP codes the church food pantry serves. The box contains items such as juice, milk, cereal, peanut butter, jelly and cheese.
The church funds its food pantry through donations from Lutheran church association members and others, a garage sale fundraiser and a grant from Second Harvest.
Pastor Ekong said its sister church, Lord of Life Lutheran in Canfield, has partnered with Victory for about a decade. On food-distribution days, a team from Lord of Life, coordinated by Judy Lobaugh, makes a hearty breakfast for free for those at the food distribution. “They cook up a storm,” the pastor said, noting Lord of Life underwrites this cost.
For next Saturday’s distribution, Pastor Ekong said a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Austintown, a businessman, has donated 3,000 T-shirts to give out. Ongoing collections are for old cellphones and children’s and adults’ eyeglasses.
Pastor Ekong said these projects reveal a collaborative spirit among the Lutheran churches. “I believe the churches in the association realize they can’t work in isolation,” he said. “Being part of a larger group makes reaching out to people and community more of an impact. We can’t be inward but must look outward.”
Donations from association members made possible the purchase of a 25-cubic-foot chest freezer for the Victory pantry.