 |
|||
Last year we had a great time planning and preparing to feed 500 families. Over 500 volunteers were a part of providing a Thanksgiving meal to over 2000 people. (read stories, in comments, below) Our mission was to provide an entire meal for each family to feed at least 4 or more to cook for themselves on Thanksgiving. We knew we needed to collect food and $3,200 to pay for the 500 Turkeys. Through trust in God, it happened! It happened again and again! God provided such an abundance we were able to give more and more to those in need.
Other churches in the area came on board to assist, collect food & offering. Businesses started to collect food & donated funds. Friends of friends told their friends and donated food or helped with projects. Co-workers got excited and started to fund raise. 40 ladies played Bunco one evening and raised $400. People donated numerous items to auction and over $1,100 was raised. Life Bridge Christian Church had a 24 prayer vigil & later prayerfully took up an offering. One man collected over $1000 from is friends and co-workers alone. Other businesses sold “turkey hands” for $1 or other donation and raised about $400. Some donated time to projects, talents in designing web sites, communicating on Facebook and Twitter and others offered support. We had folks pick up boxes, go shopping, organize food collection, create and distribute 500 tickets and others offered support & prayer.
God provided MANNA In The DESERT… We ended up with enough food and funds that we were able to finally provide 10 items in each box with a roasting pan. We placed an envelope with all the organizations involved and $6 (for butter, milk & eggs) in EVERY box. over 75 volunteers showed up on each of the 2 days of distribution. The stories of the day and blessings shared made it all worth it and, I feel, Glorified God.
Here is one newspaper article written. NWI Times on 500 Turkeys 2009
More info and stories will be provided as they are shared.
Please consider joining in the mission to “Gobble Up Hunger” this year and beyond. What ideas do you have? Who can you reach out to to reach others with food & love?
Jeni Bolton – Coordinator Life Bridge Christian Church 1705 LaPorte Ave Valparaiso, IN 46383
11/23/09 Stacey Foxx Petro wrote… I never imagined 500 turkeys could move me to tears. But when you see all the people and feel the love, you can’t help but be moved! Thank you, Jeni and all your little angles!
11/23/09 Skip Hilzley wrote… This was just an all around fantastic and God filled experience. God’s touch and blessings were felt by far more than those who received meals. I especially enjoyed all the new people I met over the past few months. The support from the guys and gals at U S Steel was awesome. Many of them I had never met before but… 500Turkeys brought us together. I was also touched by all the different organizations that came together, other churches, The Civil Air Patrol, and various business as well. I thank Our Awesome God for taking care of every need and relearned how faithful and loving He really is. With God anything is possible. Praise His name forever!
11/23/09 Jocelyn Berkebile’s response to Skip… I was blessed to meet & serve with you, your lovely wife & the entire Life Bridge Family. I look forward to future opportunities to share the love of Christ with all of you. My cup runneth over!
11/23/09 David Bass wrote… Jeni, I know that, while I was geographically separated from everyone during this time, I was holding you all up in prayer and was absolutely blessed to see the awesome work that God did through this. It never ceases to amaze me what He can do when His body follows His lead.
11/23/09 Leah Prickett-Fritz wrote… Jeni, THANK YOU so much for your servants heart! … All glory to the almighty! I am so very proud of YOU! … many people will have a wonderful THANKSgiving. I was glad to be small part of this. We LOVE you! ?
And thank you to all the others that made this possible.
11/22/09 Nichole Hilzley wrote… I just wanted to say thanks for letting me be a part of this enormous act of God. i know i wasnt much help at all, but being able to be one of the first to say hello to the guests was absoultely beautiful. I was reunited with a childhood friends family and able to hear first hand how God has touched their lives through this. What an absoultely awesome Blessing! Everyone involved in putting this together and pulling this off is truly an Angel among us here on earth. May God Bless you all!!!
11/22/09 Marsha Moore wrote…? Thanks so much to everyone who helped w/ 500turkeys. My family was treated with kindness and respect by the volunteers from the moment we got in line till the time we left the parking lot. We were especially surprised to find some cash in an envelope when we got home. We also appreciated that so many volunteers came up to me and chit-chatted for a moment, which made me feel very welcome. We also enjoyed the refreshments, which made everything seem so unstressful. It was much appreciated!
Im really bad with names, but I do remember a man outside, ‘Jake’ who was so friendly to us while we were in line outside. This was the most organized mission I had ever been a recipient of. We also appreciate the men and women in uniform standing at the door and helping out w/ the truck. I sure hope many more recipients come forward so show their support.
11/22/09 Kimberly Shake Davis wrote… It has been awesome to be a part of the miracle of 500 Turkeys!
11/22/09 Kent Davis also wrote…it was nice in a world so focused on doom and gloom and the down stuff to have this to talk about. it was a nice change of pace. (in another note) thanks for letting us be a part of it. I think we all grew, were blessed, were amazed, were humbled, and had a whole bunch of fun all because you took and opened that envelope who would have thought?
11/22/09 JayDee Hoskins wrote…This simple act of opening a envelope…a 20 dollar bill with the word TURKEY written on it…who knew that 500 families would be sitting down on Thursday to enjoy a meal, togetherness, family, friends, and Gods love….AMEN
11/22/09 Missi Maynard Wrote… I just can’t get over how amazing God and this weekend are. “He turns our tears into songs of praise.” Yup.
11/22/09 Patrick Jakubowski wrote… Over the last few days I have seen Gods plan come together. I have seen a dream come true. I have seen 500 thanksgiving dinners go to people who need them. I have seen many volunteers pour their hearts out for others. I have seen honor and duty in our youth. Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of 500 Turkeys. I consider it a gift to serve and an honor to know all that were involved.