MOUNT VERNON — The congregation of the First Presbyterian Church has found a way to celebrate the church’s 200th birthday this year: Collecting 200 items each month for Interchurch Social Services.
The idea for the project unfolded at a meeting last year of the church’s Missions Committee, said members Jan Watson and Melanie Bolender, as the committee considered its bicentennial theme of “Forward in Faithfulness for Jesus Christ.”
“We discussed collecting 200 items for Interchurch for Thanksgiving,” said Watson. “Then someone said, ‘Why don’t we do something each month?’ It sort of snowballed from there. That meeting was fun because the ideas just flowed. People are enthused. There’s a lot of excitement over this.”
“Because it’s tangible and doable,” added Bolender, “it’s something everyone can participate in. Someone with a limited income can give two cans of food. Someone with greater financial means can bring 20. Another reason people have liked this is that it’s a special goal each month.”
The project began in February with the goal of collecting at least 200 cans of cream soups; 266 were collected. In March, 279 cans of fruit were gathered and in April, according to the most recent count, 211 toothpaste and deodorant tubes had been collected.
In May, the church will collect cans of tuna; in June, peanut butter and jelly; July, spaghetti sauce and pasta; August, canned vegetables; September, toilet tissue; October, canned meats and chunky soups; and November, canned pasta. Baby food will be collected in December to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
Kim Beaver of ISS said the church delivers the items to ISS at the end of each month.
“I think it’s a great idea,” she said. “I wish all the churches did this. Interchurch is in need every day. Two hundred items of anything makes a difference to us.”
Bolender and Watson said the project has attracted attention outside the church, as well, and people who don’t belong to First Presbyterian are also donating.
“I think it’s pretty exciting,” said Watson. “It’s something we can do very, very easily. And I think it touches a chord, with the 200th anniversary.”
“It keeps the 200th in front of us each month,” added Bolender. “We’re cognizant of it all year long.”
“I think that part is terrific,” agreed Watson. “If we can be an example for future celebrants, I think that is a very doable situation.”
The official celebration of the church’s anniversary is planned for Sunday, Aug. 31, at 10 a.m. The community is invited to attend. Several other events will also mark the bicentennial throughout 2008. A church history, written by Mount Vernon High School history teacher Bill Shriver, will be available for purchase this summer.
Beaver said Interchurch is continually in need of other high-demand items such as laundry soap, dish soap, toilet tissue and shampoo.
