On Nov. 20, Mary’s Angel Ministries, Lashunda Ard Outreach Ministries and several local church organizations teamed up to feed and clothe more than 200 people at the Columbia Activity Center as families prepare for the holiday season. The effort included hot meals, a free clothing giveaway and other basic necessities offered to anyone who walked through the door.
Organizer Loretta Brown of Mary’s Angel Ministries said volunteers lost count of plates served but knew the total easily topped 200, with guests also able to browse racks of donated clothing, some of it brand new with tags still attached. All of the clothing was given away at no cost, with residents allowed to take what they needed for themselves and their families.
Brown said the day was about more than food and clothes, describing the event as a chance to provide a sense of security and joy for people facing uncertainty heading into the holidays. She said seeing smiles on faces and watching churches and community groups work side by side to serve neighbors was a blessing within itself.
In addition to the meal and clothing, volunteers responded to individual needs, including helping at least one woman who came in without heat at home by providing blankets. Brown said the collaboration of churches, sponsors, volunteers, cooks, local businesses and regular donors made it possible, noting that supporters such as Walmart routinely contribute food for ministry feeding efforts.
Brown is already focused on reaching people who could not make it to the event, particularly those living on the streets as temperatures drop. She said Mary’s Angel Ministries is collecting blankets, socks, hats and gloves, along with care packages, to distribute directly to unhoused residents on cold nights and invited anyone interested in donating items or scheduling a pickup or drop-off to contact her at 601-522-8054.
