Branch UMC remembering senior citizens this Christmas season
COSHOCTON – Lori Varns was hoping to raise $1,000 to help 10 senior citizens this Christmas season, but after she announced the idea to her church it grew bigger than she expected.
“I talked to my pastor and he let me stand up one Sunday a couple of weeks ago to share my idea,” she said. “The following Sunday we took up an offering and collected $2,200. They really embraced the idea.”
Varns attends Branch United Methodist Church, which is a small, but mighty church in the country. The church members worked together, with the assistance of only one outside source, to raise $2,700 they will use to help 18 senior citizens.
“A lot of senior citizens have no family or maybe just get forgotten about since there is so much emphasis on children at this time of year,” Varns said. “I just felt there is a lot of need for our elderly in the community and God led me to help make sure they aren’t forgotten.”
She received a list of items that the senior citizens are in need of or wanting and a group of volunteers from the church met Dec. 4, at Wal-Mart to go shopping for them.
“We will get them things like shampoo and body soap, things they want like clothes and hats and some food,” Varns said.
Some of the church members also are making homemade goodies that will be added to the boxes when they are packed.
“I’ve really received an outpouring of help, money and donated items,” Varns said.
The boxes of goodies will be delivered Saturday, Dec. 13.
“We don’t want anything in return,” Varns said. “We just want to let people know we care. If we make connections and can help take someone to the grocery store or to get their hair done that would be awesome. If God leads me to do this again I will follow him and by all means continue to do this.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Faith
