Christian Center operates through the holidays to serve

PITTSFIELD – Holidays bring joy and good tidings, especially that time of year between Thankgiving and Christmas. It is also a time of reflection and to acknowledge the good service of the Christian Center, located on Robbins Avenue.

This Christmas Day, the center was empty and still, the staff and volunteers taking a well deserved rest. Not forgotten, however, were the children in need.

Many children, including those over the age of 12, who are often left out, are provided with holiday gifts from the Christian Center’s friends and patrons.

In the early morning stillness of a lovely Thanksgiving morning, the kitchen of the Christian Center was a beehive of activity as volunteers worked to prepare a lovely dinner for all in need. The hustle and bustle created a wonderful energy and an uplifting atmosphere of love.

The mission of the non-profit, non-denominational Christian Center is to uplift the community through empowering individuals with dignity, nourishment and hope.

According to the center’s executive director, Ellen G. Merritt, the need in the Pittsfield area is great, and the center strives to meet it with non-judgmental and non-intrusive assistance and to give in a way allowing those in need to maintain their dignity.

Early in the morning, volunteer drivers line up to collect the 350 take out meals for the elderly, ill and shut-ins.

In the kitchen, working like a well-oiled machine, volunteers filled containers and shuttled them to a large, pie-covered table.

There, more volunteers bagged the meals and the drivers quickly stacked them in everything from plastic bins, to laundry baskets, to cardboard boxes, and hurried on their way. By 11 a.m., the volunteers at the center took a few deep breaths before finalizing the prep for the expected 70-90 guests soon to arrive.

In addition to the huge undertaking of providing Thanksgiving dinner in a lovely, homelike setting and helping Santa to come to many families, the Christian Center continues its aid throughout the year.

They also provide a noontime meal Monday-Friday, a food pantry, a boutique (free store), a reading program for students from grades one through five and a transitional living program.

The center provides a haven for those in need of help, friendship, understanding or just a warm place for a hot cup of coffee.

The Christian Center receives a small grant from the City of Pittsfield, but relies heavily on private donors and businesses as well as the time and efforts of volunteers.

Those wishing to donate items for the boutique, food for the pantry, money or time should call the Christian Center at (413) 443-2828.

Posted by Staff Reports on December 27, 2012. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry