Neighbor News
Church Fills In Food Gap For DMV
Reverend Jermone Tarver and First Lady Lovie Tarver greet people in cars as they pick up food from the Wednesday food drive at the church.
Captiol Heights, Maryland
If it's Wednesday morning, that means volunteers and church members are getting packages and food ready for the needy at Maple Springs Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, just over the Washington, DC line. "I like to help those in need," says Angelica Carpenter, a 15-year member of the church. Denise Dukes, who invited me along with Alphonso McKnight to the food drive event, says, "connecting with others to build up God's Kingdom is her mission."
The over 15 volunteers on the day mission is to serve others and be a blessing. Cars line up before the gates opened. "I think that speaks to the urgency of the need," says Reverend Jerome Tarver." Reverend Tarver, a young and energetic minister, gives his members a pep talk before heading out back to greet and hand out food with First Lady, Lovie Browne Tarver.
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Each car receives a box of fresh vegetables, a hot meal, masks, gloves, and toilet paper. Herbert Hawkins, who helps run the show and is the numbers man, says, "since April 22nd we give out 8-thousand meals, 9-thousand masks and 5-thousand bottles of water." Although a well-oiled machine, Minnetta Coles, made sure folks social distance and washed their hands. The church teams up with Prince George's County, World Kitchen, and Pi Upsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation. To learn more about the program, visit https://msbcmd.org/
