D e l m a r v a l o u s ! Dorchester County

Area needs met on Pine Street

ABES News Services

ABES News Services Crowds came out January 21, 2008 to the Empowerment Center in Cambridge for free meals and clothing in a joint outreach effort by the New Revived UMC of Taylors Island and the Pine Street Committee (PSC). Above at the table from the left are the Reverend Jerome E. Tilghman Sr. of New Revived UMC, Portia Johnson-Ennels, Gloristeen Pinkett, and Beth Stevens. ABES News Services PSC volunteers for the event included, from the left, Francis Gilbert, Joseph Saunders Sr., and Bill Wyatt. In the foreground is some of the clothing that was made available to the public. See more pictures below.

CAMBRIDGE -- The weather may have been cold on Monday but there was plenty of community warmth at the Empowerment Center on Pine Street in Cambridge. The New Revived UMC and the Pine Street Committee (PSC) joined forces to reach out to area residents, with the church providing free hot meals and the PSC free clothing.

New Revived UMC is located at 4350 Smithville Road, about 14 miles from Cambridge. More information about the church may be had by calling (410) 228-2110.

"The people could not come to us, so we brought our ministry to the people," said the Reverend Jerome E. Tilghman, pastor of New Revived.

"We are just fulfilling our mission by reaching out to those who are in need and to continue the fellowship within in our community."

Pastor Tilghman said the outreach idea was birthed about six to eight weeks ago and became a project of the Staff, Pastor, Parents Relations Committee of the church. "It's an ongoing ministry that we plan to continue during the winter months," he said.

The food, donated and prepared by church members, included a variety of hot soups, desserts and beverages. Around 125 had been served by 1 p.m. Volunteers transported a number of servings to the Mallard Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Glenburn Avenue. People had the option of getting a carry-out, or dining in. Those that opted to stay at the center had opportunity to enjoy a program on TV.

"We are just trying to meet the needs in the community," the Reverend Tilghman said. He continued, "Right now we thought this would be a good opportunity to do some ministry with the soup day because of the winter weather. Plus, it is Martin Luther King's holiday that we are celebrating and a lot of folks were in town. We just wanted to touch as many people as we could."

The Reverend Tilghman has been pastor of New Revived for about 18 months. "Actually it is my home church and I was appointed to my home church, so I have been blessed to serve that church and serve that community," he said.

While people enjoyed their hot meals, an assortment of free clothing was available. Octavene Saunders of the PSC said mostly men came for the free clothing. Concerning the whole event, she said, "I didn't keep a count, but it's been a good turn out."

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