Cindy Jenko, of Oxford, believes ‘we are better together.?
That’s why she and her church, Seymour Lake United Methodist in Brandon Township, are conducting a massive food and personal needs drive to benefit three local charitable organizations ? Oxford/Orion FISH, Ortonville Community Emergency Fund (OCEF) and Lighthouse Emergency Services (Clarkston branch).
‘We wanted to be able to reach out to all three communities,? said Jenko, explaining her church draws members from the Oxford, Brandon and Clarkston areas due to its ‘unique location? at the corner of Seymour Lake and Sashabaw roads.
From now through April 1, church members are working to collect 1,024 cubic feet of canned goods, nonperishable food items and personal needs items such as toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, diapers and dish soap.
Clarkston residents Doug and Kathleen Woodward are coordinating the community outreach mission.
The goal is to collect enough items to fill the 16-foot X 8-foot X 8-foot hay wagon sitting outside the church facing Seymour Lake Road.
Donated by church member Clark Cook, owner of Cook’s Farm Dairy, the large wagon is being used to display a banner reading ‘Help Us Feed the Community: Drop Off April 1st.?
Due to weather conditions, the wagon won’t actually be filled with the donated items. It’s mainly there to serve as a symbol, a goal and an advertisement for the drive, according to Jenko.
‘We wanted a semi-truck, but we thought it would tear up the lawn,? Jenko said.
The food/personal needs drive is part of the church’s ?40 Days of Community? program, which is affiliated with Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California and based on his best-selling book ‘The Purpose Driven Life.?
Jenko described the program as a way to ‘bring the church together? and help the community at-large fulfill a need.
‘We are better together,? she said. ‘We worship better together. We can reach out to our community better together.?
Members of the congregation will assist the drive by canvassing neighborhoods for item donations, placing collection boxes at their workplaces, ‘adopting? grocery stores (asking customers as they enter the store to purchase certain items, then donate them on the way out), and purchasing items themselves.
On Saturday, April 1, the final collections will be made, sorted and boxed at Seymour Lake UMC’s Fellowship Hall, then delivered to the respective agencies.
Jenko said the donations will be divided among the three charitable groups based their current needs (requested items) and the demand for their services.
Oxford/Orion FISH assists approximately 120-130 families each month. OCEF aids about 50-60 families each month. Lighthouse (Clarkston) helps approximately 100 families a week.
Of the more than 1.2 million people living in Oakland County, approximately 70,000 are receiving food donations.
Of those 70,000 people, about 74 percent are working, age 18 or younger, or over the age of 65.
There are approximately 1,300 homeless people in the county and almost half do not live in shelters.
For more information about the drive ? how to donate, how to volunteer, etc. ? call Kathleen Woodward at (248) 922-9049.