Central’s Food and Raiment Day provides hot meals for hundreds
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Volunteers delivered homemade soup, sandwiches and desserts to 200 or more elderly, disabled or shut-in residents, and another 70 enjoyed meals in the church’s fellowship halls.
An exact number of clients receiving donations at Central’s clothing recycling center was not immediately available, but a church spokesman said the number would probably exceed 100. The clothing center is open the public most Thursday mornings.
“We were honored to have these neighbors as our guests,” said Jimmy Griffith, one of Central’s elders. “It’s a privilege and blessing to be able to share in this way. The church exists to serve the spiritual and, wherever possible, the physical needs of people.”
To create an inviting atmosphere for the guests, Food and Raiment volunteers decorated the tables with festive ribbons, candles and sprigs of holly.
“Our ladies went the extra mile to make this a joyful occasion for our visitors, many of whom do not ordinarily share in the material bounty of the season,” said Charles Bogle, another of Central’s elders.
While the clothing donation center was able yesterday to meet most of its clients’ needs, there remains a strong and permanent demand for men’s work boots, coveralls, gloves, hats and toboggans, said Betty Yates, one of the volunteers in Central’s benevolence program.
The name for the annual lunch-and-clothing benefit was inspired by the words of Jesus when he taught his followers to focus on their spiritual needs and trust in God to satisfy their basic human requirements: “Life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment.” (Luke 12:23 KJV) Raiment, an Elizabethan-era word that means clothing, is rarely used today.