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Warm hearts, helping hands

By C. J. GREGO THE NEWS-ITEM chris_g@newsitem.com

Chris Grego
Feb 21, 2021
Feb 21, 2021
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Volunteers unpack large pallets of food boxes outside Advancing the Kingdom on Spruce Street for a drive-by distribution to those in need Saturday morning in Shamokin.

C. J. GREGO/STAFF PHOTO

Jack Leiby, of Shamokin, receives the first box of food Saturday morning in front of the Advancing the Kingdom shop on Spruce Street from volunteers Mary King, left, and Paige Bassett. Leiby, who did not arrive in a vehicle, braved the sub-freezing temperatures to receive a food box on his motorized wheelchair.

C. J. GREGO/STAFF PHOTOS/

A long line of vehicles on Spruce Street awaits the distribution of food boxes from Advancing the Kingdom, a Shamokin-based automotive service company, and Blessings of Hope Ministries. Volunteers handed out a total of 432 boxes of food Saturday morning to those in need.

LEFT: Volunteers hit the streets, handing out boxes of food to people in need. By 10 a.m. a long line of vehicles had already formed around the block from Sixth Street to Spruce Street outside the Advancing the Kingdom garage in Shamokin where the distribution was taking place. RIGHT: Volunteers unpack large pallets of food boxes outside Advancing the Kingdom on Spruce Street for a drive-by distribution to those in need Saturday morning in Shamokin.

C. J. GREGO/STAFF PHOTOs

SHAMOKIN — To a caring group of volunteers, it didn’t matter that the air temperature early Saturday morning hovered at or below 20 degrees. They were determined to give of their time and love in handing out food boxes to a large group of needy people.

Nearly an hour before a local food distribution event — organized by Advancing the Kingdom (ATK), a local vehicle repair business, and coordinated with Blessings of Hope Ministries — was set to begin, a long line of vehicles already stretched far around the block from West Spruce Street back onto Sixth Street. Inside each vehicle sat individuals and families, either in need of food themselves or delivering items to others in need.