By Ann Geyer and Dana Myers
As an expression of its mission to share the love of Christ with its community, Mount Zion UMC in Enola began the new year, 2019, by inviting members of the congregation to collect gently used flat shoes, coats, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, and blankets for distribution to non-profit organization in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The church’s Fund Raising Committee coordinated the effort.
As word of the outreach spread on social media, bags of winter wear arrived from persons across the local community, and on January 27, over 1,300 items had been collected.
Shoes were placed next to the pews, coats were laid on the altar of the church’s sanctuary, and many more items filled bins placed in the church’s gathering area. The items were blessed by Rev. John Overman before they were delivered to area ministries.
The overwhelming response meant that Mount Zion UMC was able to help Downtown Daily Bread, Bethesda Mission, Neighborhood Center, Shalom House, Salvation Army all located in Harrisburg, and blankets for Pat Nissel for distribution to people living on the streets in Harrisburg. Additional items were donated to Community Aid, Mechanicsburg.
