The Coshocton County Beacon March 25, 2020 | Page 4

4 • The Beacon
March 25, 2020
River View Ministerial Association
offers help and hope to RV community
By Josie Sellers
www.CoshoctonBeaconToday.com
T
he River View Ministerial Asso-
ciation is combining efforts with
the River View Local School District
to make sure children do not go hun-
gry while they are off school during
this outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.
Restaurants and stores have donat-
ed boxes and Pastors Wesley George
and Jeff Calkins are hoping the com-
munity will help fill them with food
to donate to the school district. Dona-
tions can be left at: River View High
school (rear entrance) – 10 a.m. to
noon, - Wednesday and Thursday;
Conesville UMC – 9-10 a.m. and 7-8
p.m. Monday and Wednesday; and
Comfort Food
Canal Lewisville UMC – 10 a.m. to
noon, Monday and 9 a.m. to noon
Wednesday. To schedule a different
drop-off time contact Conesville
UMC or Canal Lewisville UMC
church office.
“We want to help subsidize
what the schools can provide,” said
George, who is president of the min-
isterial association.
Helpful items to donate would
include canned goods, macaroni and
cheese, spaghetti, pudding cups, pop
tarts, cereal bars, raisins, ravioli,
Ramen Noodles, and popcorn.
“Things that kids can make or just
grab and go would especially be help-
ful,” George said.
River View has an existing Bless-
Helpful items to donate would include
canned goods, macaroni and cheese,
spaghetti, pudding cups, pop tarts,
cereal bars, raisins, ravioli, Ramen
Noodles, and popcorn.
Submitted
Volunteers gathered together to help pack boxes of food that will be delivered to families in the River View Local
School District.
ings in a Backpack Program that
sends food home with families. Fami-
lies who benefit from this were con-
tacted and others who had an interest
in receiving help were asked to con-
tact Jovie Metz, food service director
at 740-824-4286 or 740-294-8245 for
more details. You also can check the
River View Ministerial Association
Facebook page for more updates on
how you can help.
“If you need help contact us,” said
Calkins who is the secretary/treasurer
of the ministerial association. “This is
a family problem and we’d be happy
to help any family in need.”
George and Calkins also had a few
suggestions on how to stay connected
to your church families when many
churches, like the schools have closed
their doors to help slow the spread of
COVID-19.
“A lot of churches are using social
media as a way for people to still lis-
ten to services,” Calkins said. “Con-
tact your pastor about other oppor-
tunities. I’m doing a Bible study by
conference call so we can still study
the word of God. It’s been proven that
prayer has an impact on the brain and
helps your mood.”
George said his church is exchang-
ing names and encouraging them to
call on each other and see how they
are doing.
“Hopefully it will build new social
connections in the church,” he said.
“It’s also a way to cut down on social
distancing.”
Both encouraged people to check
on what their church is doing on
Facebook, YouTube or their website.
“There are still ways we can con-
nect and add a little normalcy to our
lives,” Calkins said.
With so many church events being
canceled he also had some ideas on
how families can celebrate Easter
with new traditions.
“If we are still closed for Easter
you can mail little kids an Easter Egg
with a note or kids can draw pictures
to send to seniors,” Calkins said.
“These could be done instead of an
Easter Egg Hunt.”
A lot of
“
churches are
using social
media as a way
for people to still
listen to services.
Contact your pas-
tor about other
opportunities.
”
Pastor Jeff Calkins
George agreed with Calkins.
“A senior told me one of their
greatest blessings was when a little
girl sent them a handmade card,” he
said. “This is a crisis now and we are
going to be tested so we might as well
test well.”