Young Adult Ministry creates care packages

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 1, 2020

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LAPLACE — As COVID-19 concerns grew in the River Parishes and crowds flocked to grocery stores, the Young Adult Ministry at New Wine Christian Fellowship put together care packages to help some of the most vulnerable members of the community stay safe at home.

In total, the Young Adult Ministry filled 25 baskets with tissue, toilet paper, bleach, soap and other essentials. Every basket contained food items including boxed macaroni and cheese, packets of oatmeal, soup, tuna and fruit, along with bottled water.

To keep up with social distancing guidelines, baskets were delivered on porches with a friendly note attached. When possible, the coordinators called ahead of time and rang doorbells to let the seniors know it had been dropped off.

The Young Adult Ministry typically focuses on outreach to young people through hiking trips, brunch dates, Christmas parties and worship nights, according to Chrystol O’Connor.

“This is the first time we have tried to do an outreach event like this,” O’Connor said. “We’re trying to come up with ways we can give back more. We knew some elderly in our community may have been a little afraid to go into the stores and go shopping. We got together to help out some people and see what we could do.”

O’Connor added that the Young Adult Ministry has reached out to local nursing and assisted living homes to see if any donations are needed. She would like to organize another outreach event for single parent families in need.

Kristen Mamou said it was a pleasure to help some of the elderly members of the community.

“It was nice to get out and give them a little token to say somebody out there cares for them and that God cares for them as well,” Mamou said. “It’s special to be able to do something for others during this time when you can’t do certain things.”