Jesus said to him, “Feed My Sheep” - John 21:17

The Lancaster/Northumberland

Interfaith Service Council

© 2010-2011 The Lancaster/Northumberland Interfaith Service Council, Inc.

Interfaith Meetings

Interfaith Service Council To Honor Volunteers, Dedicate Building

 

 

Volunteers will be honored and a “new” office building will be dedicated at an appreciation picnic scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, by the Lancaster/Northumberland Interfaith Service Council at its furniture warehouse, 1086 Harris Rd., Kilmarnock.

The 12-by-24-foot office building adjoins Interfaith’s warehouse and provides privacy for needy persons being interviewed when they seek assistance.  Volunteers converted the building over the summer from an unused firewood shelter standing on Interfaith’s property for many years.  Previously, interviews had been conducted in the warehouse, where privacy was not possible.

“For some time, Interfaith has desperately needed a private place for interviews that assures confidentiality when our neighbors in need come to us seeking our help for themselves and their families,” Jeannie Kling, Interfaith’s president, said.

“It’s been unnecessarily cruel to compel these good people to openly discuss their private lives in the presence of others.  We’ve solved the problem with the conversion of the firewood shelter into an office building.  We’re very grateful to everyone who’ve made that possible.”

The firewood shelter had been a simple open structure comprising a slanted roof supported by posts.  A concrete floor was poured and volunteers painted the building after enclosing it with siding, insulation, wallboard, a door and windows; and installing electricity, carpeting, a smoke alarm, a fire extinguisher, air conditioning, baseboard heating, lights, phone service and furniture.

The structure’s conversion was carried out with contributed funds and building materials expressly contributed for that purpose.  No funds donated or designated for Interfaith’s assistance programs or operations were spent for the project.  Interfaith had ended its firewood program last year because there had been no requests for it for a number of years.

Volunteers who worked on the office project will be among those to be honored at Interfaith’s appreciation picnic.

Interfaith is supported financially by individuals, organizations and churches in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties.  Contributions to Interfaith are deductible for federal income tax purposes as a 501(c)3 organization designated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.  Interfaith works closely with the Lancaster and Northumberland Departments of Social Services.

Among Interfaith’s many services to neighbors in need in Lancaster and Northumberland Counties are financial assistance with delinquent rent, mortgage, electric and heating bills, furniture and other household goods, home-delivered meals, emergency food boxes, school supplies, home repairs and wheelchair ramps, air conditioners and heat monitors.