Free food and free health care screenings and information will be part of the Community Care Fest which will be held this Saturday in Chambertown.
Community Care Fest organizer Monica Wicker-Ramsay said the event will be held in the open field on Columbus Street from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wicker-Ramsay said the event is being held in cooperation with the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System and Bikers Against Hunger. The event will include a cookout and entertainment. There will also be blood pressure and blood sugar screenings and other health care information and education will be provided. There will be food assistance for needy families and individuals, but Wicker-Ramsay cautioned that the food distributions will be on a first come, first served basis.
“All is free of charge,” Wicker-Ramsay said. “We want to serve the community because you matter.”
Wicker-Ramsay described Community Care Fest as an event to bring people from different churches together to combat hunger in Union County. A Union native who now lives in Charlotte, NC, Wicker-Ramsay said she was inspired to organize Community Care Fest to bring together the county’s churches to fight hunger after seeing similar efforts in Charlotte and elsewhere.
“After moving away (from Union) and traveling nationally and internationally a bit, I was exposed to so much diversity,” Wicker-Ramsay said. “I came to respect diversity and appreciate people that came from different backgrounds’ ability to come together for a common cause, especially one that involved the Lord Jesus Christ. And being able to come together to provide food assistance for families that need it is a great cause.
“I currently reside in Charlotte, NC and have worked extensively within the community here, and view what I always dream of seeing in Union, SC with the churches in the area,” she said. “Charlotte has a unique way of coming together to serve the community in such practical and tangible ways. Just about all the churches are connected in one large food bank organization to provide food to needy families.”
Wicker-Ramsay said that while some churches “have already begun to blaze the trails in Union County by helping needy families with food assistance” and are doing commendable work, “I wanted to take it a step further and help bridge the gap between us so that the entire community could come together. Black and white, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational and the like come together on a common bond to serve our community in hopes that someone may see Christ in a way they never have. Things don’t change completely overnight, but they can if we take those steps.”
Saturday’s event is also being supported by a number of local and area churches that Wicker-Ramsay said have made donations including the non-perishable foods that will be distributed Saturday. She thanked the churches and their ministers for their support.
“I certainly met challenges in facilitating this community outreach, but I will do it all over again because I met some wonderful people in the process,” Wicker-Ramsay said. “This leads me to thank all that helped with the community non-perishable food-drive and donated to this cause. To the following, thank you: Piney Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Cowpens, SC with Rev. Dr. Rector, Breakthrough Church in Spartanburg, SC with the Missions Minister Michael Anderson, Mt. Zion World Outreach in Spartanburg, SC with Bishop Nathan Roberson, Corinth Baptist Church in Union, SC with Rev. Calhoun, McBeth Baptist Church in Union, SC with Rev. Wicker, Sims Chapel Baptist Church in Whitmire, SC with Pastor Williams, Outreach Deliverance Church in Carlisle, SC with Pastor McConnell.
“I especially would like to thank LaRuchula Murphy, Jessica Maynard, Pastor Neil Anderson with Trinity Baptist Church, Lay Pastor Rick Dupree with New Life Baptist Church, and Tim Holden with Bikers Against Hunger,” she said. “Pastor Neil, Rick Dupree, and Tim Holden are constantly feeding the homeless and those in need, particularly here in Union. These men are some of the most selfless people you will ever meet. I went to them with my aspirations and plans; they have worked with me to make this event happen. They acted without hesitation or reservation. I would just like to sincerely thank God for them.”
Anyone who would like to volunteer to assist in Saturday’s event and/or know someone who needs food assistance but is unable to come and pick it up should call Monica Wicker-Ramsay at 864-266-0760.
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