The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Church on the Rock to re-open community thrift shop, continues providing free food
ONEIDA, N.Y. » Community is so important during times of crisis, and Oneida’s Church on the Rock isn’t letting the pandemic slow them down.
The church, known for its generosity and its spirit, is bringing new and exciting opportunities to the city’s residents. The first of which is new extended hours for the food pantry, now open from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdaythursday.
Food has been going out of the church to anyone in need throughout the pandemic, both in the form of non-perishable pantry goods and freshly cooked meals. Their commercial kitchen out of their location on 164 Madison St. provides free community lunches from noon-2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month, and dinners from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday.
During lunch, guests can order their food to-go or dine-in while following safety guidelines.
For dinner, “we deliver, or people can come and pick up,” explained Church on the Rock’s Lead Pastor Jeff Leahey. “We have drivers that go out and take it right to people’s homes. If
people want to sign up for [dinner], all they have to do is call the church and there’s a place for them to leave a message.”
At the last community dinner, the church gave away 230 meals, the pastor shared.
“Delivering 230 dinners in one hour and a half is pretty interesting, and we were able to do it with about 20 volunteers,” he said.
It was surprising at first to see how popular meal deliveries were, Leahey commented. In the past, the church’s community dinners were a special time for fellowship and mingling. “The coronavirus switched all of that around. People just are a lot more comfortable at home,” he explained.
The next community dinner is Feb. 18. The meal is Chicken Divan over rice with a vegetable side.
The church’s donationdriven thrift shop, Hidden Treasures, has been closed for some time due to COVID-19. At the shop, residents donate gently used clothing, housewares, toys, and miscellaneous goods, and anyone can browse the collection and take what suits them. A donation is appreciated in return but is not necessary.
Residents will be pleased to hear that this resource will be opening back up on March 2 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. It will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
“A lot of the new donations that have come in...still have price tags on them. It’s really amazing,” Leahey remarked.
The furniture section will be open, too. The church is not looking for furniture donations from the public at this time.
“We have a few [companies] that actually drop off really good furniture that we can give away. That’s been a huge blessing,” he said.
Church on the Rock has a big plan in store for kids who often find themselves searching for something fun to do in Oneida. Pre-pandemic, the church received a grant to purchase all sorts of sporting supplies. To put this to good use, the church is going to transform its parking lot into a sports park.
Basketball hoops, volleyball nets, cornhole boards, street hockey equipment, and more will be available for use. Because the church’s parking lot is fenced in, there will be control of when the sports park is open, and adults will be around to supervise and get in on the fun, Leahey explained. Giving kids something to do that’s fun and provides opportunities for companionship is the primary goal of the park. Even if kids come to play alone, they don’t have to feel alone if they don’t want to.
The plan is to get something up and running by June, depending on the pandemic, the pastor explained. The park is planned to be
open three or four times a week in the evenings, which will be made possible with newly installed light fixtures.
Being able to give back to the community in ways like these is largely thanks to the community itself, Leahey explained.
“I’d really like to highlight the fact that we just get [a] ton of support from our community. We really do,” he remarked. It’s everyday residents who manage and stock the food pantry and Hidden Treasures, deliver meals, and participate in other activities. “The
love and support that we get down here on the North side is absolutely amazing to me,” he added.
The church streams live radio shows, including Sunday service, via their website. If anyone needs a hand with a struggle, the church also services as a connection to other helpful community resources and programs.
To contact Church on the Rock, call (315) 2804044, or visit their Facebook page. Special appointments can be made if residents are unable to visit the food pantry or thrift shop during open hours.
“Delivering 230 dinners in one hour and a half is pretty interesting, and we were able to do it with about 20 volunteers.” — Church on the Rock’s Lead Pastor Jeff Leahey