More Help for the Needy Families of Baird
Acts 20:35 ESV
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Matthew Reynold’s, a deacon in our church (First Baptist Church in Baird), also works for Mark Hewitt at Love and Care Ministries in Abilene. One of Matt’s jobs is to distribute non-perishable food in the Care Pack for Kids at Abilene ISD and many other surrounding community’s schools, including Baird. We have 47 children that we give food bags to every Friday just in Bird. These are prepared by Matt’s team at the local Abilene Love and Care facilities.
Step back to November of this year, Matt and I were handing out Thanksgiving food baskets to the Care Pack for Kids and their families at Baird ISD on a Sunday afternoon after church. Matt and I were talking to some of the parents and asked them if they had any specific needs and many of them were asking for coats. As we handed out the food, we took coat orders at the same time. There are so many needy moms and dads and grandparents and uncles and aunts and older siblings. The needs are many in Baird. So, we decided to start a coat drive for mid-late January.
The organizers of this coat drive start with 7 individuals:
1. Myself
2. Matthew (First Baptist Church)
3. Carrie (Church of Christ)
4. Leslie (Church of God)
5. Debbie (Presbyterian Church)
6. Cathy (Methodist Church)
7. Dela (City of Baird)
Many of these local Baird businesses are helping:
1. Seth Goldsmith Enterprises
2. Hanner Chevrolet
3. Dairy Queen
4. Allsup’s
5. I-Hop
6. Love’s Truck Stop
7. Doller General
8. Clay Jacobs Parker Funeral Home
9. Baird Drive In
10. AM Donut Shop
11. Don Louis Restaurant
12. Mary’s Restaurant
13. Baird City Hall
14. Baird ISD
15. 1820 Restaurant
16. Baird Motor Inn
17. Senior Citizen Center
18. Baird Police Department
19. Baird Volunteer Fire Department
20. Callahan Appraisal District
21. Callahan County Clerk’s Office
22. Dr. Raul Calvo, MD
23. City of Baird
24. Brian and Monique Wheat
25. Grumpie’s Specialties
26. Billy Harris Auto Repair & Service
27. Kelton Flower Shop
28. Market Street Beverage
29. Robert McCool
30. Old Shoppe Antique Dealers
31. Mike Parker, Attorney
32. Robertson’s Hams
33. Shady Oaks Golf Course
34. Texas Department of Public Safety
35. Texas Farm Bureau Insurance
We have lined up the Baird Light Plant (it’s a giant venue in Baird for parties and such) as the distribution center for the day we give the coats out. Nearly all of the local businesses have promised to participate in one way or another. We are happy that financial donations are coming in. We have been blessed. We are still working through the details of the time of distribution, but the process is moving along. Trying to get everyone together is easier now that Christmas and New Year’s is over. Everyone is excited to start a new project.
I am thankful for Kris Seale and the Board of Directors of Funeral Directors Life for allowing us as employees to have these opportunities to spend time reaching out to families in this capacity. I am also very thankful for the fellowship we have as a team by building our community with the love of Jesus.