Drayton Ave. Kids Help Feed Hungry Neighbors
(Jennifer Bott VanderWeele)
Hungry families live everywhere, including our own Ferndale backyards.
This was the message at Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School as about 40 kids, teens and volunteers marched seven red wagons full of collected food down Pinecrest Dr. to the First Baptist Food Pantry at First Baptist of Ferndale Church, Friday, Aug. 20th.
Participating Drayton Presbyterian students ranging in age from 5 to 16 were asked to collect food and pantry items throughout the week-long, 2-hour-per day, morning enrichment. Drayton’s annual Vacation Bible School is free and open to anyone in the community regardless of religious background. Celebrating its fifth straight year, the program draws children from Ferndale, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge and other neighboring communities.
Aside from hearing Bible stories, celebrating music, doing crafts and enjoying snacks daily, the students were asked by the Rev. Dr. Scott Miller of Drayton to reflect on the needs of neighboring families who may have less money in their food budgets due to various circumstances such as a parent losing a job.
“I think it’s important that we do it because how would we feel if we needed food?” questioned Juliet Christin, a 10-year-old Ferndale resident who participated in the Vacation Bible School. “It would make me really happy if people helped me.”
By Friday, the students had collected several dozen bags of food, some using their own savings to purchase items for the pantry. They then loaded their wagons and walked the several blocks to deliver the items, often breaking out into “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” a theme song from their Vacation Bible School. They were met by the Rev. Cathi Feldpausch of First Baptist and pantry volunteer, Rene Garcia.
“You think it could never happen to you, but it can,” Garcia said, revealing that he was once in a difficult position and that the First Baptist Pantry helped feed him. He added that the pantry is expanding due to high demand, serving about 500 individuals per month.
Abbey Krycian, another 10-year-old Ferndale resident, said she was proud to help the pantry.
“They don’t really have much money or stuff to buy food,” she explained. “We all have money so we should help them.”
The First Baptist Food Pantry is open to the public. For information on how to visit the pantry or donate call 248-545-4664. For information about Drayton Avenue Presbyterian’s Vacation Bible School and other youth programs call 248-546-8360.
Jennifer Bott VanderWeele is a personal historian from Pleasant Ridge. Her website is
www.yourpersonalmemoir.com.
