BLUEFIELD, W. Va. -The people of the Bluefield Union Mission are working 24/7 and 365 to make sure everyone in the community has their needs met, with the entire operation running on donations.
“God is so good; This mission back years ago was named the busiest little mission in the United States, and the reason for that is we do it all; we do everything. You know, we feed, we clothe, we offer transportation, we offer… overnight emergency stays… We’re the whole show,” says Bluefield Union Mission board chairman Lonnie Quesenberry.
However, one of their busiest times of the year happens in late December, with the community needing assistance to hold their holiday feasts. This is divided into two days, with a meal to take home and prepare given on Christmas Eve and a hot meal on Christmas Day, with the Mission even giving a few toys to those who need them as well.
Quesenberry says on Christmas Eve alone, they help around 250 families. However, they have help from people in the community to make it happen.
We spoke to a volunteer there named Sarah Waddle who volunteered at the Bluefield Union Mission growing up and returned for the first time this year. She says helping the community here is one of the best ways to spend Christmas Eve.
“The idea that just recognizing that not everyone is going to be as fortunate, and so making sure that everyone has something to look forward to, I think there’s something really powerful in that and just letting everyone know that they have support and that people care about them, and I think that’s really important as well,” says Waddle.
Waddle encourages other people to consider volunteering, calling it an opportunity to see the “spirit of giving” active in the community.
While Quesenberry says the holidays brings a lot of support their way, he says they could always use more donations or volunteers. If you would like to volunteer on Christmas Day, they will start to work at 9:30 a.m.
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