A group of multiple area churches and outreach ministries are partnering with international relief organization Convoy of Hope to bring a one-day community outreach event to Veterans Park in Great Bend Saturday, Aug. 28.
The free event, dubbed “Hope in Our City” by event organizers, will offer a host of free goods and services to members of the community in need from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that day, as well as several family-friendly activities.
Convoy of Hope will be on hand with a semi trailer on the north side of Veterans Memorial Park to meet practical needs by giving away groceries, and other stations will be available giving away clothing, shoes, backpacks with school supplies, baby supplies and other items, while supplies last, said the Rev. Sandy Kennedy of Faith Community Church in Great Bend.
In addition, volunteers and businesses will be on hand providing free services such as haircuts. The Barton County Health Department is also scheduled to be at the event providing free blood pressure checks, back to school vaccinations, and more.
Resource tents will be set up providing information on foster care, housing, parenting, assistance programs, where various clinics will also be held throughout the event. A prayer tent will also be set up at the event.
In addition, there will be a children’s area set up with an inflatable zone, crafts, games and prize giveaways. A free hot dog lunch will also be provided at the event.
Kennedy stressed no identification will be required to receive goods or services at the event, and that the event would take place as scheduled regardless of weather.
Event background
According to the Rev. Dwight Dozier, lead pastor at Encounter Church in Great Bend, this began as an outreach initiative from Springfield, Mo.-based compassion ministry Convoy of Hope to reach out more to hard-hit rural communities.
“Their community outreach events have primarily targeted larger cities (in the past), but two years ago they launched a rural initiative to bring these events to smaller, more remote towns,” Dozier said. “Great Bend was chosen as part of that rural initiative and the event was scheduled for Sept. 2020, but postponed to this year due to COVID.”
He said Convoy of Hope has a strong record of service.
“I have been privileged to personally observe Convoy’s work through the Greensburg tornado relief, Haiti earthquake relief, and COVID relief efforts,” he said.
Encounter is one of at least 12 different area churches and three ministries working together with Convoy of Hope to put on next Saturday’s event. Several of the churches have previously worked together to put on previous “Super Sunday” worship services held in Great Bend.
Kennedy said the partnership between the area’s churches as a single Christian body is crucial to each church helping meet the community’s needs adequately.
“We’re stronger together,” Kennedy said. “Each church has (different) things they can do well. No one church can meet all the needs of the community, but together we can begin to do that.”
Kennedy said she sees the event as an opportunity to build bridges and remove barriers that may exist between members of the community and churches. She hopes people attending the event will be able to see that people, and churches, in the community love and care about them, and hopes people will see the love of Jesus through practical needs being met.
She said that there will be no charge for any of the goods and services. All goods and services have been paid for and provided by volunteers and donors from area churches and businesses.
Kennedy said has been grateful for the broad support among area churches and volunteers.
“There’s lots of volunteers that pull something like this together,” she said. “Many people have volunteered to help with things or take the lead with different things.”
