CONTACT-FREE DINNER
Kingdom Ministries offering hot food, warm clothes, and toys on Christmas
TROY, N.Y. » Kingdom Ministries, the faith-based organization, is preparing to welcome people to its 8th annual Christmas dinner and giveaway - safely.
Following their very successful socially- distanced takeout model from Thanksgiving, Kingdom Ministries will have hot meals ready to go in a contact-free delivery method. Children will be able to pick out new toys and a selection of warm coats and winter clothing will be available to all that need them.
Kingdom Ministries president Billy Carter says that as in the past, he is being by his relationship with God to serve his community.
“Once again, my relationship with God leads me to wonder, what are people doing by themselves on the holiday?” said Carter. “This is normally an opportunity for people to be together, have a hot meal, enjoy music, eat, laugh, eat, laugh, and eat some more.”
While the pandemic is preventing people from laughing together and enjoying music, they will still have plenty to eat with Kingdom Ministries’ takeout dinners. Each dinner includes spaghetti with plenty of meat sauce and Italian sausage, garlic bread, salad, drinks, and a dessert. Carter says he already has 200 preorders for food and expects about 150 walkups on Christmas Day.
Reservations or preorders are not required to get food, toys, or clothing. Walkups are always welcome. If you prefer to place a preorder, you can do so by calling 518-935-7377.
Everything will be ready and waiting on the first floor of Christ Church, at 35 State St. in Troy. Just like at Thanksgiving, when people arrive they
must be wearing masks and must stay six feet apart. The hot meals will be packaged up and ready to go in reusable bags donated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Everyone will have an opportunity to “shop” for clothing and toys.
While Carter hopes that people will move through the lines quickly so that others waiting don’t have to stand in the cold, he admits that he understands folks wanting to take their time.
“I know what it’s like to isolate, and it makes things worse,” he said. “People like to take their time. They want to talk to us about the holiday.”
Carter says that like so many other past events, the Christmas dinner is a team effort made possible by his partnerships with sponsors, volunteers, and other helpers.
This year, toys were donated by Reverend Packard from Guilderland, Louis Copeland of Hudson Valley, the Rensselaer County Youth Department, the Troy NAACP, and Mount Olive Church in Albany. Nite Owl News is donating women’s gifts, and coats were donated by MVP Healthcare.
This year’s major sponsors for the Kingdom Ministries Christmas Community Dinner are: Troy NAACP president Renee Powell, Bethel Baptist Church in Troy, Spindle City Vineyard Church, Hannaford, Price Chopper/ Market 32, Pioneer Bank, Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello, Senator Neil Breslin, Assemblyman John McDonald, Kingdom Ministry ops manager Sylva Menard and Bishop Bill Love with the Episcopal Diocese of Albany.
Carter is also very grateful to his volunteer staff from the Korean Methodist Church in Watervliet, Groff Network, and Kingdom Ministries, who will be helping him on Christmas Day.
“We have a [ great] volunteer squad,” Carter said proudly. “We appreciate the manpower. The youth group from the Korean church comes in and gets those plates put together in an hour. I’m just so glad to have a network of churches and businesses that we can work with to be God’s arms and legs to serve our communities. I’m so glad we’re able to do this.”
Carter hopes that Kingdom Ministries will help bring smiles to people’s faces on Christmas Day. He wants everyone to know that they are welcome at Christ Church, and to reach out if they need help.
“It’s tough right now,” Carter said. “I’m glad we’re here for the ones that are feeling it. It’s about kindness. Somebody is really, really going to need us to be there, and we’re going to be there for them.”