FREE Market Reactions
By: Leigh Anne Clay
Fill a bag for free? Really? What’s the catch? No catch… This is just incredible!
Over and over again, we heard our guests make these and other similar comments while checking out our Spring Free Market. I don’t blame their reactions. My parents told me while I was growing up that if something seemed too good to be true, it usually was. Considering the world in which we live, it’s not often where EVERYONE is offered items that they want or need for FREE. We at the Bayside Church of Christ know, however, that it IS for real since we have felt the benefits of giving and receiving ever since Brad and Jeannette Forbes began this outreach ministry five years ago.
Over 200 people came through our fellowship doors last Friday and Saturday and into a room heaped with donations. They found items that were just the right size, they chose items to replace old, worn out things, and they discovered treasures they never thought they would own. What a blessing it was to witness such happiness! Howard and I wish more of you could have been at the Free Market to see how this simple outreach blessed REAL people! Since the weekend, my mind has been filled with memories of these people; I hope I never forget! Let me tell you about a few of the most appreciative people I met! First, I met a single mom of two adolescent boys who found not only clothes and shoes for the three of them but most memorably an arm sling for her youngest son. He had broken his arm, and she had fashioned a sling with an old, stained pillowcase. When she found an arm sling still in the box, she burst into tears since she had no money to buy something so nice and so necessary at that point in their lives. Second, I met a grandmother who takes care of five of her grandchildren. They all came together and were patient and quiet (unbelievable!) while she found coats, clothes, and shoes for all of them. Each of the children chose two little treasures each (such restraint amidst such choices!). Their eyes just beamed! The grandmother, Wilemina, had tears in her eyes while they all ate Dunkin Donuts (a treat the children had NEVER had), and she said to me, “I do the best I can with them, but this is even better!” All I could do was give her a warm hug.
Church, there are so many more stories… Ask Jim and Nancy Salter, Mickey Vittitow, Josephine Thomas, Angela Hobbs, Sarah Jones, Denise Byrum, Shannon Fraley, Jennifer Johnson, Dave Backus, Lee Partridge, and Linda Holmes to tell you their experiences. They put in SO many volunteer hours with our Free Market! Some members who came to help set up, to work a shift, or just to show support could tell you, too, how good it feels to share freely with others: Aaron Shaner, Benjamin Salter, Brad and Jeannette Forbes, Kathy Davis, Tracey Smith, Alicia Smith, Jackie Neal, Lynne Neal, Alana Yacus, Debra Link, Kelli and JT Keagle, Traci Gay, Tomeka Johnson, JoAnne Ledbury, Monica Salter, Jessica Davis, Barbara Garton, Don Gustafson, Faye and Ron Salyard, Nancy Patterson, Dale and Dara Phillips, Wade Schweitzer, Randy Constant, Brian Schwarz, Elizabeth Luster, Shirley Backus, Nettie Liverman, and Rick and Pat Saul. Even the youth in our church were drawn in – some were happily put to work and loved participating: Benjamin Salter, Hannah Kirven, Luke Kirven, Braxton Johnson, and Cody Constant. When you ask them about their experiences, thank them too!
Most everyone was overcome with thanks, and it gave the volunteers just the opening we needed to tell them a little more about our church. Let me ask you, how did it feel when you bagged and boxed your belongings and brought them to the church? Were you struck with the feeling that you really have too much? And – didn’t it feel good to free your closets, drawers, and cabinets of extra or unused items? It sure helped our family, and especially me, a true-to-the-core packrat.
What could or should we have done differently? Aside from the most minor details, I can only think of one thing: we needed more church members to volunteer for short blocks of time. Sadly, we didn’t have anyone sign up to help with donation drop offs at the POD or pick ups from people’s homes. We had several slots of time to volunteer during the Free Market that were never filled in. Thankfully, we had several people offer to help at the last minute!
“Have you recovered yet? Would you do it again?” some have asked me. Without hesitation, I say YES! What a wonderful ministry to be a part of! Now I ask, Will you do it again, church? Let’s make this an INCREDIBLE Bayside tradition!
Ministry News
Have You Ever Seen A Trunk Full of Food? I Have!
by: Jenny Johnson & Nancy Carrier
Click on picture to read full article
During the month of April, Bayside Church of Christ began a drive to collect items for Southeastern Virginia Food Bank. This is part of our Doing Good in The Neighborhood Projects. Our first quarter collection was approximately 200 lbs of much needed food. Nancy Carrier shares her experience upon delivering our donation:…