“Greater Things” Thursday #30: Give Away Day

Lebanon Road’s theme for 2011 is “Greater Things.” For an introduction and video to the theme, click here. Each Thursday, we are highlighting an area in which we are striving to meet this theme.

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For several years, Lebanon Road has hosted a day in which we simply give things away to those in the community who need them. Some years in the past, we have had huge give-away days with clothes, furniture, and other items. However, over the past few years, the day has changed somewhat, and it is very effective.

Each year, some of our young adults collect money and purchase mountains of common school supplies (paper, folders, markers, pencils, scissors, etc.). On Friday night, we meet to make bags filled with these supplies.

Then, on Saturday, we give them all away, but we also do other things. We grill hot dogs, and have a free lunch for those who come for the supplies. Some of our folks also have carnival games and reading corners for the children who come. Last year, we gave away over 300 bags of supplies in under an hour. This year, due to the generosity of our members, we have enough money to give away 500 bags! Our Give Away is this weekend, and there is an avalanche of supplies already collected and ready to be sorted and given away.

This is a great day, and it truly helps many people. It is also a joy to see the many children enjoying the games and food, as many of our members sit and talk with the parents.

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For “greater things” to happen, we need lots of folks from Lebanon Road to come to this day. It takes many “hands” to grill, serve, run the games, register visitors, read, and just give words of encouragement to those who come for the day. Let’s have a(nother) wonderful Give Away Day this Saturday!