Precision Valley Baptist Church Blesses Children

The members of Precision Valley Baptist Church in North Springfield, VT worked together to bless over 50 families with gifts for Christmas and other practical forms of help. These families included over 300 children. This is the 7th year in a row that the church has taken part in this outreach effort. The effort was a partnership between the church members, who donated 300 gifts and over $1200 in cash, and local businesses, which allowed the church to purchase items at a discount in order to help children have a good Christmas. Dave Bentley, pastor of the church, said "In today's economy the choice often becomes whether to keep a roof over their children's heads, keep them fed and warm or get gifts for Christmas." Dave was happy to help some families not have to make that heart wrenching choice this Christmas. The effort was focused on helping local families because the needs right in the Springfield area have become so great. Doris Kilburn, the director of the Women's Ministry of the church, said, "It made us feel good to be able to provide for people in such a small but important way at this time of the year." Ms. Kilburn went on to share how moved she was when some of the parents who came to pick up gifts "cried because they felt so good that someone was doing something like this to help them out." The church also provided winter clothes for those who needed them.

(Portions of this article were taken from a report by Donna Cummings which was printed in the Dec 30 edition of the Springfield Reporter.)