Posted on : Monday October 29, 2012

By Sharon Mager
BCM/D Correspondent

GLEN BURNIE, Md.–Faith Baptist Church, Glen Burnie, will partner with the Glen Burnie Salvation Army to provide food for the needy from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Ministry Leader Janet Hayes said Salvation Army workers usually give clients turkeys for Thanksgiving, but with budget cuts, they’re going to host a dinner, and they asked Faith Baptist to help. As of mid-October, 130 people already signed up to attend the dinner and many more are expected to register, in addition to homeless people who will wonder in.

Volunteers are needed.

“We can always use whatever hands we can have. We also need people to bring side dishes and funds for turkeys,” Hayes said.

Hayes works with Kathy Snow at FBC to coordinate the benevolent ministries. Volunteers provide hot sandwiches in the middle of Glen Burnie on Ritchie Highway on Saturday mornings. They minister to the homeless on Friday evenings. They also serve food and clean up from 5 to 7 p.m. at the American Rescue Workers Church on Hanover Street in Brooklyn.

The number of homeless at the Friday evening feeding ministry at the Salvation Army has doubled, Hayes said. “Since the summer, we’ve gone from 25 to 50 people. We only have 35 chairs. People are asking if we have room for them to sit on the floor.”

Volunteers work to feed the hungry, but they know the most important need is Jesus.

“We are a resource place for them to come and hear about God. We have prayer said at each meal and we get them involved. We also have Bible readings,” Hayes said.

Faith Baptist also participates in Winter Relief, providing shelter for homeless people for a one week period through the Arundel House of Hope.

For more information, or to volunteer, call (410) 766-8126 or (410) 456-4251.