Hello Second Family,
How we miss you all and long for the day when we will be able to worship and serve together again. There are many of you who are new members and you do not know me or my daughter, Meredith, but you will when this is over and we resume worship together. I’ll be calling on you for service at Tea Room in the Spring. We are so happy that you have chosen to be a part of our Second Family and I look forward to meeting each of you.
After a wonderful conversation with Cress, he asked that I share with you a mission opportunity that Meredith and I have been enjoying for several weeks. Through Second’s weekly mailing, I discovered an invitation to serve those experiencing homelessness in the area who have been exposed to COVID-19. My first concern was how does one serve without fear of exposure to self? So Meredith and I talked and decided to see if it fit our criteria for safety and for being of service. We discovered that it is the easiest and one of the safest ways to serve.
The City of Charleston provides food delivery to the homeless population affected by the virus and they need volunteer drivers to deliver the food. There is a central pickup location and 2 delivery locations. This experience of simple joy takes about an hour of our time, such a small sacrifice. Armed with masks and a cheerful attitude, we have found our way to be of service without worry. We have been delivering food once a week for the the past month and have been so blessed by this simple act of service. Meredith and I are so anxious to get going on Wednesday morning, loading Caleigh into the car, and heading into town, knowing that we will make a difference for someone in need. It helps us to make sense of what is going on around us. Instead of feeling helpless and useless, we have a sense of purpose, small but mighty!
We have discovered other ways to serve as well, as one of our delivery locations is the Navigation Center that helps to transition those currently experiencing homelessness to housing and jobs, or just to provide a place of security and basic needs. They accept all donations of clothing and toiletry items, feminine hygiene products; all of these very small ways to help someone feel valued and not forgotten.
I would encourage any of you who want a safe way to serve to consider this opportunity. You can get all the pertinent information here or from the church office or through the City of Charleston Department of Housing and Community Development. If anyone would like to talk to me (Cathy) or to Meredith, please feel free to call.
We are called by God to work together for the glory of His Kingdom, in small ways and in large ways. We must work together to promote justice and equity for all, to treat each other with respect and dignity, to lend a helpful hand to those in need, to live the life of service God calls us to. It has been a blessing to share in that mission with my Second Family for many years and I look forward to it for many years to come.
Missing you all and praying for good health and safety for each of you!
Blessings,
Cathy and Meredith
