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Archive - Article 26
Operation Compassion Delivers Christmas to the Mountains
1/30/02
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Volunteer
worker serving Christmas dinner to Appalachia families.
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Christmas 2001 was a unique time at the Appalachia Dream Center.
Under the direction of Coordinator Michael Hartwell, Appalachia
Dream Center provided Christmas to 2,500 families. The Appalachia
region of West Virginia has suffered unprecedented poverty in recent
years, leaving thousands of families without an opportunity to provide
for their own needs. The year of 2001 was particularly cruel to
the region. In July, the region faced floods of catastrophic proportions
leaving hundreds of families without any personal belongings. Just
as the region was beginning to recover, September 11th saw the attacks
on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington,
D.C. The focus of the country changed as donations shifted to those
disasters. When the economy began slipping into recession shortly
after the attacks, the Appalachia region was once again hit hard.
However, throughout the last half of 2001, Appalachia Dream center
picked up the slack and met thousands of needs.
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Volunteer
worker stands among bags of toys and stocking stuffers for
the children.
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Christmas was the highlight of a six-month stretch of intense ministry
at the Dream Center. Michael Hartwell and his staff worked tirelessly
to provide the very best for the families and children within the
community. During the week of Christmas, twenty-five volunteers
prepared and cooked a traditional Christmas meal consisting of turkey
and dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, dessert and drinks
for over 2,500 families. They invited elderly couples, widows and
widowers, single parent families, families that have been without
employment because of layoffs and families still trying to recover
from the ravages of the flooding. Of course, children of all ages
were there as well. Michael Hartwell reported, “Everyone had
such a wonderful time. Some of the families pitched in and helped
serve and clean up. Every family was thrilled to be at the Dream
Center for Christmas dinner.”
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Hundreds
of people stand in line waiting to be served Christmas dinner
at the Appalachia Dream Center.
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The Christmas spirit was evident everywhere. While the families
were waiting in line to be served dinner, spontaneous singing broke
out. Christmas carols could be heard, not only from inside the Dream
Center but by those outside standing in the parking lot. Everyone
was enjoying the fellowship and fun of hundreds of families coming
together and sharing love and peace on earth. For a few hours, the
families of Appalachia could forget about all the trouble and problems
facing them and enjoy themselves and one another.
Following the dinner, everyone received gifts for Christmas. The
senior adults received games and puzzles. The children received
new toys of all kinds and stocking stuffers. Everyone received something
including candy and snacks. Without exception, everyone was glowing
and thrilled with the gift they unwrapped at the Dream Center. In
fact, one seven-year old girl received a brand new doll for the
first time in her life. In this day of affluence, it is hard to
imagine a little girl not having a new doll. Yet, Michael Hartwell
and his corps of volunteers had the pleasure of providing a dream
come true.
There was an elderly gentleman that was given a clue game and puzzle.
He remarked how he had not had a puzzle since he was a little boy
running barefoot in the mountains of West Virginia. The stories
go on and on of how the Dream Center has fulfilled the needs of
the people they serve. Many families live in remote areas only accessible
by four-wheel drive vehicles or on foot. Yet, they come to the Appalachia
Dream Center because each family knows there is someone that cares
for them personally. Not only do families receive Christmas dinner
and gifts and flood relief and building and remodeling supplies
but each family also receives unconditional love and acceptance.
The kind of love and acceptance that Jesus Christ, Himself, exhibited
to the multitudes that came to hear Him in the mountains near Jerusalem.
Christmas 2001 was truly unique in Appalachia! Two thousand five
hundred meals were served and over five thousand toys and stocking
stuffers, candy and snacks were given to the most needy of families
in West Virginia.
Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator
Anyone interested in financially supporting or volunteering for
the many ministry opportunities of Operation Compassion should write
or call:
Operation Compassion
David Lorency - President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
Office: 423-728-3932
Fax: 423-596-4200
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