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Doing their part during the season of giving

Local churches collect goods, provide assistance for families in need

By Billie Dunn

COXSACKIE — This year the Second Reformed Church in Coxsackie collected nearly 700 gift-filled shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, a project of North Carolina-based Samaritan’s Purse that has been collecting and distributing gifts to disadvantaged children abroad since 1993.

Last year was the church’s first year as a collection site, and this year’s bounty more than doubled last year’s.

But that’s not all the Second Reformed Church is doing for the holidays. On Dec. 12 the youth group gathered to decorate the sanctuary and separate clothing that was collected for the Albany Rescue Mission.

Pastor Carolyn Lewis of the Second Reformed Church says she has noticed a greater need for clothing this year than in years past, as well as more families in need in the area — and she’s not alone. Evelyn Russo of Coxsackie-based Hope’s Mission has too.

“There’s definitely more of a need locally, but I don’t think people necessarily realize it,” said Russo.

Hope’s Mission provides emergency assistance for those in need as a non-profit Christian organization.

“We work in Greene County to provide the first step of recovery and we do anything within our power to provide those in need with hope and God’s love,” said Russo, who began the non-denominational organization three years ago after experiencing need of her own.

It was years ago, she recalls, when her husband Tom became disabled. The couple went to Social Services to apply for food stamps and health insurance.

“We were down there among everyone and that’s when it occurred to me — we had love, we had God, we had family, and we had hope,” said Russo. “When we walked out of there, that’s when we decided that we were going to start something.”

And they did. For three years Hope’s Mission has been serving Coxsackie families, and this year alone the organization served 120 meals on Thanksgiving Day at First Reformed Church on Mansion Street. Over the summer the Mission distributed more than 150 lunches through its brown-bag lunch program.

Hope’s Mission is also currently sponsoring 12 families — they’ve helped the families throughout the year, and this Christmas the Mission will be providing them with food and gifts.

The Mission doesn’t seek families for sponsorship, families come to the Mission. Russo says that often times families hear about the Mission and pick up the phone.

“That’s a hard phone call to make,” she said.

Last year the Mission sponsored 15 families, but Russo says more families sought assistance throughout 2008 in the form of food, clothing, furniture, spiritual guidance and sometimes, Russo says, just a friendly ear — all free of charge.

The Mission operates entirely on donations, and is currently located in the basement of the First Reformed Church.

“When you go to Social Services you don’t always walk out of there with food stamps,” said Russo. “If someone in need can’t get to a food pantry because of the time, we’ll give them food to tide them over until they can get assistance. We also help direct them to where they can go to get further assistance.”

Russo says that in the three years the Mission has been in existence the organization has helped hundreds of people — including those who live in their cars.

“I’ve been down and out just like they have, and I was ashamed,” said Russo, “but I also have love, God and hope. We had to get assistance, we had no choice,” she said.

Since its inception three years ago the Mission’s board has grown to include approximately 20 members and Russo anticipates the organization will grow.

“People need to know that there are people out there willing to help them,” she said.

To reach reporter Billie Dunn, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3323, or e-mail bdunn@thedailymail.net.

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