Published: November 01, 2009 04:31 am      

Church shopping spree a hit

ASHLAND — It wasn’t a yard sale. It was a community shopping spree.

’We have several televisions, VCRs, DVD players, home stereo systems, beds, bicycles, computers, video games ... movies,’ said Unity Baptist Pastor Floyd Paris, before adding, ’A big red cowboy hat,’ to the list of items piled high on tables at the church for Saturday morning’s Unity Community Shopping Spree. There were also microwave ovens, mattresses and coffee makers in the first wave of deliveries.

The ’spree’ was a one-day event to benefit individuals and families assisted by community assistance agencies For Jamie’s Sake and CAReS, whose clients seemed extremely pleased with the things they found waiting for them at the church.

An entire room at the church was devoted to luggage and personal carry bags collected and contributed by the congregation from Unity Baptist in an effort to provide children in foster homes something to use for their personal belongings.

’It is heart wrenching to think they have to take their things from place to place in garbage bags,’ pastor Paris said, opening the door to the luggage room to reveal a trio of volunteers placing bags inside of larger cases as they prepared to transport more than two dozen unclaimed pieces of luggage to a For Jamie’s Sake storage space.

Looking at the luggage, Paris added, ’Some people bought them brand new just to bring them here.’ At least 17 of the coats waiting for new owners were also unused and still had tags attached when delivered to the church for sorting, he said.

Arriving in groups of four and five, at least 47 families had visited the church ’shopping spree’ before noon, trading the ’Unity Dollars’ provided at the front door for the items they wanted to take home. Large items cost one Unity dollar, while smaller things were sold at a rate of four for a buck.

Lea Ann Gollihue of For Jamie’s Sake said clothing is always in demand, later specifying an immediate need for size 10 boys clothing suitable for daily wear.

’131 kids and adults were clothed by For Jamie’s Sake last month. Clothing is an ongoing need. Our clothing closet has just taken a hit,’ Gollihue said. Everyone who seeks assistance through For Jamie’s sake is also provided a copy of the Bible, Gollihue said.

Pastor Paris said volunteers and organizers are already planning another community shopping spree for next year, explaining 500 families will be assisted by For Jamie’s Sake and 600 families will depend on CAReS for additional resources.

Paris said several of the church’s men began unloading and sorting items Wednesday, setting up tables and dividing the donated goods into what they felt were appropriate categories.

’Then the ladies came in and corrected what the men did,’ he said, earning a big laugh from a small crowd around him.

’This is just a way to show that, in our community, we have unity,’ he said, citing inspiration for the event from a group that assisted seminary students. ’We’re just delighted we could help get this misplaced treasure into the hands of people who will treasure it.’

Nola Peters of CAReS said an increasing number of local residents are seeking help to survive and pay their bills.

’There are a lot more people in need this year, citing strong demand for adult and children’s clothing. ’We find there are a lot more people struggling this year ’ having financial problems with electric and gas bills. We have a lot of people ... their bills ... they just can’t pay them.’

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.