Gospel singer and Trinity Broadcasting Network personality LaVerne Tripp came to The Potters House in Jonesville on Thursday to host a “Food-raiser” Night of Singing in support of the church’s food bank project.
Tripp ministers to audience member Mike McGowan during Thursday’s event.
LaVerne and Edith Tripp sing during The Potters House “Food-raiser” Night of Singing event Thursday evening. The church collected several hundred pounds of food through contributions from those who attended.
Tripp’s wife, Edith, signs books for fans Thursday. The Night of Singing was a success, according to Pastor Don Moore who said about 100 people turned out and the church collected several hundred pounds of food for its next Truck Load of Food distribution event.
“We had all kinds of problems yesterday,” said Pastor Don Moore on Friday morning.
He and a volunteer arrived at the church in Jonesville shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday morning to begin preparations for the Tripp event but by 9:30 a.m. there was water spouting from the church ceiling.
The insulated water pipes were shut off the night before to protect them from freezing. The cold wouldn’t be stopped, however, and several pipes burst when Moore turned the water back on Thursday morning.
Having no water was a problem with the church expecting a crowd to see Tripp and his wife Edith sing and perform that evening. Without water the bathrooms were nonfunctional and cooking the soup and cornbread for the potluck dinner to be served during the sing-a-long would have been impossible.
“But we got it all done,” Moore said.
Luckily, by 4:15 p.m. — a little more than 2 hours before the Tripps were due on stage — the water pipes were fixed and the church was ready. It’s a good thing, too. Moore said a crowd of about 100 people came to see the Tripps and bring food contributions to help the church’s Truck Load of Food event and food bank.
The Tripps’ appearance in Jonesville was in support of The Potters House mission to continue feeding the needy in Union County. People who attended the evening brought sacks or boxes of canned foods and other grocery items. Moore said the church collected several hundred pounds of food for its food bank.
“We got a good little bit,” Moore said. “It turned out well. We had a real good crowd. It was great. Actually, for the weather, I was surprised the crowd was as good as it was.”
The additional food collected during the evening with the Tripps will only add to the success of the upcoming fourth installment of the Truck Load of Food event set for Saturday, Jan. 16, at the church.
Moore reported there already are about 750 families registered to receive food and while that doesn’t necessarily mean they all will come to next Saturday’s event, the church wants to be prepared.
“Second Harvest is helping us all they can,” Moore said, but added food still is needed. “We’ll serve people as long as we have food. I’m trusting that we’ll have enough.”
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the food bank can drop it off at the church in Jonesville or at First Citizens Bank in Jonesville. Moore and the church still are trying to get the word out about their food bank and distribution events, also. He and several volunteers went to homes in the Pacolet, Jonesville and Union communities last weekend and handed out close to 500 flyers to let people know about the program.
The pastor said it seems like there are people he sees at each distribution day that tell him they didn’t know about the program or just heard about it. He and the church want to make sure everyone in need of food assistance has the opportunity to come.
“So we’re trying to get the word out to them,” Moore said.
Anyone who hasn’t registered for the next food distribution event can still do so. Registrations will be accepted from 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, and again the day prior to the event, Friday, Jan. 15. Those who previously registered to receive food do not need to register again for the Jan. 16 event.
The church still has some paperwork to file to get a nonprofit status for the food bank, but that’s not stopping volunteers and Moore from helping people in the meantime. In fact, the pastor said he’s looking forward to continuing to serve those who are in need.
“I’m just excited to see what the Lord’s going to do next,” Moore said. “We’ve made it this far and we’re going to keep going.” TRUCK LOAD OF FOOD REGISTRATION: • Anyone in need of food assistance who would like to register — unless previously registered — for the next Truck Load of Food distribution at The Potters House in Jonesville on Saturday, Jan. 16, can still do so 2-5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 15. For more information, contact Pastor Don Moore at (864) 680-3465.
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