photo by: Eric Ayres (Files)
People wait in line to receive free food during last year’s Easter Food Basket Giveaway in Wheeling. The 33rd annual Easter Food Basket Giveaway is slated to take place at 11 a.m. March 30 at the North Wheeling Dream Center, 407 Main St., Wheeling.
WHEELING – The 33rd annual Easter Food Basket Giveaway is slated to take place at 11 a.m. March 30 at the North Wheeling Dream Center.
Suff. Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Church, said that, on average, between 300 and 500 people show up to receive a ham or other meat and the sides needed to make a nice dinner for Easter, which is March 31 this year.
He noted the Dream Center’s basement hall, which is where the giveaways are usually held, has received improvements and now has better lighting and heat. It will be a more comfortable and welcoming place for those waiting in line outside.
“There are four new furnaces. We’ve never had heat in the basement before. Now we’re able to heat it up. With the help of donations we finished the roof, which was a $180,000 project,” he said. “We’re hoping people will feel they are being treated better and feel more comfortable than in the past.”
Cummings said the church is still taking donations of money and food to help make the giveaway a success. He noted usually by February the effort has already received some of its usual support, but hasn’t yet this year.
“We’re struggling a little, but we’re confident we will have enough,” he said.
Those who would like to donate can do so by taking items to the church, 330 N. Main St., Wheeling, between 10 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday. People may want to call 304-233-8899 to make sure someone is there to receive the items or money. To bring items to the Dream Center, people should call the church phone number first, so someone can meet them there.
Those interested can make donations online at https://www.greaterloveministrieswv.org/giving or by mailing a check to Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, 330 N. Main St., Wheeling, WV 26003 or its post office box, PO Box 6051 Wheeling, WV 26003.
“Whatever amount it would be would be greatly appreciated,” Cummings said. “Hams have gone up, fruits and vegetables have gone up. Nothing has gone down. All of it has gone up.
“We can’t guarantee everyone will receive the exact same thing, but we will do our best,” he added of the giveaway. “We’re hoping for a two fishes and five loaves miracle that we read about in the Bible. We’ll do everything we can.”
In addition to church and community members, Cummings said he anticipates volunteers from the Wheeling Fire Department, Wheeling Police Department and Ohio County Sheriff’s Office after talking with them.
“Easter is such an important holiday. It’s the first major holiday after winter,” he said. “Hopefully when people have food for Easter it will encourage them to believe and they will have a good year. It’s the resurrection of a new year and a beginning. It has a spiritual meaning for us as well.”
He added there will be some clothes and shoes available, as well as some school supplies.
