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Archive - Article 9
Gatlinburg Community Church of God Joins Forces with 'Operation
Compassion'
4/11/01
Operation Compassion and the Gatlinburg Community Church of God
have recently joined hands in the fight against hunger in Sevier
County, Tennessee, bringing to reality their vision of a warehouse
and a food bank to help meet the needs of hungry people in this
county.
Operation Compassion presented Pastor Donnie Jester and the Food
Ministry with a grant for $45,000.00 to aid in the building of a
much needed warehouse, complete with a walk-in freezer and cooler.
The grant, given by an anonymous donor through Operation Compassion,
together with other hopeful contributions from Sevier County residents
and businesses will bring to reality the “dream” warehouse
of 7,500 sq. ft. which will adjoin the existing Food Ministry building.
The Gatlinburg Community Church of God Food Ministry is open Monday
through Thursday, currently feeding an average of ten families each
day. Recently, they received and distributed over 11,000 pounds
of food. This distribution went to people living in low income housing
projects and to schools where up to 85% of the students are on free
lunch programs.
Operation Compassion is an independent 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization
with headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee. Founded in 1994 under
the direction of its president, Dr. John D. Nichols, Operation Compassion
exists to provide a network of programs and resources to people
in need of social, physical, emotional and spiritual help, especially
targeting children and elderly living below the national poverty
level.
Dr. Nichols coordinates other nonprofit organizations for assistance
in fundraising activities for the various programs. Basically, Operation
Compassion is a feeding program. Its primary objective is to provide
food and other basic living necessities to children, their families
and elderly seniors living below the national poverty level.
It is the needy people of Sevier County who will benefit from the
joint efforts of the Gatlinburg Community Church of God and Operation
Compassion. With no hidden motives or agendas in mind, it is the
goal of these ministries to relieve the suffering of hungry people.
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