By Kim Ousley

Volunteers, from little ones to elderly and in between, lined up conveyor-belt-style at Lighthouse Community Church of God in Redford, Michigan, to pass out laundry baskets with all the supplies needed for families driving through the parking lot. Soap, bleach, dryer sheets, and even household supplies were supplied in the beginning of the Laundry Basket Project. It all started in the spring of 2021 during the height of the pandemic.

“After giving out the baskets, we thought they might need cleaning and PPE supplies, such as disinfectant wipes and masks, also,” said Pastor Dale E. Turner. “We also passed out snacks and either hot coffee or hot apple cider to each car that came through the line.”

Turner said about eighty-five baskets were given out that first Saturday. Each volunteer was excited to be a part of helping within their own community. Word was spread through flyers and Facebook. The church decided to do this each quarter of the year to help families. The next few times the numbers went up from eighty-five to over two hundred families helped.

Pastor Dale Turner

At the end of 2022, Turner said they decided to speak with the Redford Interfaith Relief director and staff about supplying the same laundry and cleaning supplies to their building. The nonprofit already gave out food within the community. “It was decided to give them $200 every quarter to provide laundry supplies to those visiting their pantry,” said Turner. Plus, a flyer announcing the church giveaway was given to each family.

She recently wondered with her committee if this is what God wanted them to continue to do. The congregation membership had gone down a bit due to COVID. Money was dwindling a bit. Thankfully, she received a call from a local pastor who said he had a friend wanting to give a financial blessing to a group who might need it. This friend asked who would benefit the most.

“That’s when we found out he was blessing us with $1,500 to continue the Laundry Basket Project,” said Turner. “People would drive through asking what the catch was, and we just said we wanted to bless them, no strings attached.” On each basket was a note saying, “This basket was prepared for you by Lighthouse Church.”

Supplies delivered for distribution at Lighthouse Community Church of God.

People have asked if they could visit the church on Sundays. Pastor Turner said one lady commented that she had nothing appropriate to wear to a church. “I told her what you see me wearing, a sweatshirt and jeans, I will sometimes wear while preaching on Sunday. Come as you are.”

How do we make God’s name great? How do we feed the hands and feet of Jesus here on the earth? These questions were asked while waiting on God’s answer. Turner said she will wait on God to let her know if it is time to finish what they started. In the meantime, she is retired from nursing and is excited to become a volunteer herself at the Interfaith Community building, blessing, and praying for anyone there and in need.

Learn more about the Church of God movement at www.JesusIsTheSubject.org.

Kim Ousley is a freelance writer from Anderson, Indiana.

Feature (top) photo: Church volunteers organize supplies in preparation for an early giveaway at Lighthouse Community.