Give As God Has Blessed You

This past week, as we wrapped up our month-long focus on Gratitude, Trinity Downtown put that gratitude into action and set time aside to give back and share some love with our homeless neighbors in Downtown Orlando. The day after Thanksgiving about twenty Trinity volunteers, joined by some new friends from the Bel-Air neighborhood, and supported by so many more who worked behind the scenes to make this happen, provided 100 meals, pies and blessings to our local homeless neighbors.

We shared….

• 100 handmade, creative Thanksgiving invitations made by the students of Lake Minneola High School and their teacher Kristen Pautienus.
• 100 meals of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and peas were prepared, boxed up, given with a piece of pie, bottle of water, a small devotion book and information on regular worship times and Christmas special services.
• 44 pies collected by the Bel Air Neighborhood Cares initiative!  I can’t tell you how blessed we were to be able to experience first hand what happened when Trinity member, Cathy Simmons, reached out to her neighborhood to partner with us in giving back to the community. We had so many pies, that after putting 100 slices with the meals, we were able to deliver many more to nearby fire stations to bless those folks who work on holidays to keep us all safe!  I hear one of our young volunteers got to slide down the slide pole in the firehouse!
• $465 collected in gift cards was also donated by our Bel-Air neighbors!  Trinity’s pastoral team will be distributing the cards to every child at the Women’s Residential Counseling Center, so that the children are able to purchase something for their family for Christmas.  We plan to spend some time with children and create some special Thank you notes for the families that made those gifts possible!

Would you believe the original plan was to invite 100 homeless to Trinity for a sit down dinner?  But how do you “not” invite the hundreds more who also need a meal?  So, Plan B developed.  We invited women and children living in transitional housing program to join us for a sit down meal, a Christmas family photo opportunity and crafts for the children. But, because opportunities abound on a holiday, many of those families had other plans or were out on a holiday pass visiting family.  So, instead of throwing our hands up in the air and assuming it wasn’t meant to be, the enthusiasm persisted for serving those in need and answering the call of “something must be done!” We shifted gears toward Plan C without missing a beat. The volunteer team was presented with the new plan to come in early to box up meals & desserts and go out in teams to deliver them wherever a needed!  What was the response?

Deaconess Liz shares, “Truthfully, the direction never changed, only the plans of how we were to move in that direction were altered.  God had different plans for Trinity’s initial attempt to do something about hungry, lonely and homeless people at Thanksgiving. Gathering people who are lost and seeking Him did not necessarily apply only to those living on the streets of Orlando.  Trinity members and friends from a neighboring community shared stories, thoughts, and laughter.  New friendships are budding. Future sharing and giving projects are probable.  Because a need moved some to say “something must be done,” leaders and followers felt God stirring their hearts and they got involved.  Our work produced by faith and our labor prompted by love touched the lives of many.”

Thank you to everyone who participated, prayed, contributed, cooked, stirred, cut pies, scooped food, packed coolers, ran to the store, cleaned, carried, drove, delivered, smiled, encouraged, and shared love in all the unique ways you are gifted  — to make this all possible. THIS is what it means to be the hands and feet of Christ, to contribute as you are gifted, to give as God has blessed you… to share the great love of Christ with others.  We can’t wait to do it again!