Ministry group to host Easter dinner

TROY, N.Y. >> People with nowhere to go on Easter Sunday can join Kingdom Ministries for its annual free community holiday meal.

The celebration begins at 5 p.m. with an Easter egg hunt at Christ Church on State Street in downtown Troy. Following the egg hunt, at 6 p.m., guests will be able to enjoy a feast including baked ham, fried chicken, vegetables, baked macaroni and cheese, rice, gravy, sweet potatoes, breads, beverages and desserts.

Billy Carter of Kingdom Ministries, one of the main organizers of the meal, as well as a similar event on Christmas Day, said the group did a smaller Easter meal last year, but wanted to make this year’s a bigger event.

“Last year was very small,” said Carter. “We know that Christ sacrificed for us, and so, we wanted to be able to help and serve others.”

Carter said the community meal is made possible thanks to volunteers and local businesses who contribute their time, money, food and other items. Carter said the group has enough to serve around 300 meals.

“We try to go above and beyond to get that smile on people’s faces,” explained Carter. “Nobody needs to be by themselves, especially on a holiday, and Kingdom Ministries is really about bringing people to Christ, so these meals on the holidays are a way for us to be used by God to touch the community.”

Not only will people who attend the community meal be able to enjoy free food and entertainment, they can also get free clothing and houseware items. Kids who attend will be able to visit with the Easter Bunny after the egg hunt and will also have a chance to win a bicycle or remote-controlled toy trucks.

“Everything we do is needbased, so when we have these community meals, we always try to hear what people are in need of and we try to get it,” said Carter. “We always try to provide as much help as we can.”

Among those helping to organize the meal is chef Jarrett Austin, who said he is looking forward to the day.

“What I am looking forward to the most is bringing everyone together,” said Austin. “You would be surprised how many people are in need, and a meal can help them tremendously. Whatever makes them happy is what makes us happy.”