On October 3, the lives of many in Sandpoint were blessed by the Convoy of Hope. It was not only successful in giving families in need free services, it also succeeded in building community ties to continue offering those services beyond the event date.
Convoy of Hope organizers have all mentioned the needs of Bonner County. In our community, the needs may be hidden from plain sight, and agencies and organizations may not know its community’s needs. Additionally, those who require reduced or free services may not know where to go.
The Convoy of Hope is an international organization providing for the particular needs of individual communities. Nationally, it assists and trains local coordinators in preparing for the Convoy of Hope day-long charity event. They provide individuals and families with free haircuts, family portraits, groceries, lunch and entertainment in addition to meeting with local organizations and businesses offering free or discounted services to them. Although many local businesses donate supplies and services, Convoy of Hope donates the groceries distributed at the event.
First impressions after Sandpoint’s first Convoy of Hope in October showed that it was a resounding success. Eric Rust, pastor of Cedar Hills Church, was the church relations director for the event. He helped gather city churches together to make the event happen.
“It was a huge success on a lot of levels,” Rust said. “When you think of the people who came to (the event), there was a lot of unity. I saw parents laughing with their kids, coloring with them in the Kids Zone.”
There were more than 200 haircuts given and 30 resumes prepared. There were 1,500 bags of groceries, 200 pairs of children’s shoes and 900 pairs of women’s shoes given away. And not only that, but more than 600 women attended National Breast Cancer Foundation’s early breast cancer detection workshop.
“They probably saved multiple lives with that workshop,” Rust said. “It was electric to see so many people come to serve.”
When times are difficult, simple things like getting a haircut can become out of reach. Rust saw an older mother and her adult daughter come in for haircuts.
“It was nice to see a mother and daughter in the later stages of life get the royal treatment. They left with new shoes and groceries, and I just thought, ‘Wow’ with respect to how they were treated. Two hair stylists were the extension of God’s hands,” he said.
The charity event gave volunteer groups an opportunity to see what more could be done in the community. Several members of the medical and dental professions noted that Sandpoint doesn’t have a free clinic.
“It got people talking. … That’s what makes Convoy of Hope a success,” Rust said. “Sandpoint is full of generous people. It’s what I love about the community. It’s really a lifestyle of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.”
And it was not just those who received services who were blessed; the volunteers were as well. Gary and Candy Medders served as the lead people with the volunteer team.
“Our role was to help organize the many volunteers coming to the event,” said Gary. “On Friday night we helped with the rally at First Christian Church by registering the volunteers.” And that was no small task given that on that night alone there were about 700 volunteers who showed up.
Gary and Candy collected forms and handed out T-shirts to all of those volunteers. As one can imagine, there were many questions to be answered as well. “Our role was to help organize the many volunteers coming to the event,” said Gary. “On Friday night we helped with the rally at First Christian Church by registering the volunteers.” And that was no small task given that on that night alone there were about 700 volunteers who showed up.
On Saturday morning they arrived at the Bonner County Fairgrounds at 6:30am to hand out badges and packets to the head of each volunteer group – including food services, haircuts, health services, shoes and more. In addition to the 700 who showed up the previous night, there were approximately 350 more volunteers who showed up on Saturday, eager to give of their time and talent to such a worthy cause.
Gary and Candy became involved in the Convoy of Hope through First Christian Church and their friends Dale and Vicki Jeffres, who spearheaded the event.
“As Christian believers, Candy and I believe we are called by Christ to care and to serve other people. We saw this as a church mission as well as a personal mission to help serve our community. After attending the very first informational meeting, we became committed to the mission of the Convoy of Hope,” said Gary. And they are glad they did.“As Christian believers, Candy and I believe we are called by Christ to care and to serve other people. We saw this as a church mission as well as a personal mission to help serve our community. After attending the very first informational meeting, we became committed to the mission of the Convoy of Hope,” said Gary. And they are glad they did.
The day brought many inspiring moments as Gary and the other volunteers witnessed the delight in the faces of those being served. “I watched a young lady and her children getting their haircuts, and the joy I saw in those eyes of both the mother and her children was very heartwarming. One could sense their self-esteem starting to rise,” said Gary. “I watched a family getting their photograph taken, and to see the happiness of having a picture taken that they would never have had the opportunity to do was incredible.”
“I watched a young lady and her children getting their haircuts, and the joy I saw in those eyes of both the mother and her children was very heartwarming. One could sense their self-esteem starting to rise,” said Gary. “I watched a family getting their photograph taken, and to see the happiness of having a picture taken that they would never have had the opportunity to do was incredible.”
But it was the people at the prayer tent that appears to have impacted Gary the most. “People at the prayer tent being prayed over and having someone who truly cares them as a family or an individual, willing to sit and pray with them was emotionally overwhelming,” he shared. “The prayer tent was busy all day long.”
As far as whether they would do it all over again. Would they do it again? Absolutely.
“We would be happy to help serve again as we feel we were truly blessed by just being helping hands for Christ,” said Gary.
For more information, visit www.convoyofhope.org/sandpoint.
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