By Mary Mason, Guest Columnist
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I want to thank all local residents who donated blankets and comforters for those homeless and needy.
I wish I could hug every one of you. It may seem like a small act to you, but your compassion and caring is a great blessing to those who are homeless, sleeping in a tent, residents of the Friendship House homeless shelter and those who can’t afford an extra blanket.
I was amazed that we received more than 800 blankets and comforters. Murphy residents, you rock.
I want to also thank pastor Jimmy Tanner and members of Murphy First Baptist Church for filling our blanket box to overflowing three times.
Also, thanks to pastor Aud Brown of Little Brasstown Baptist Church for allowing us to store the blankets in the church attic. Special thanks to his wife, Becky, and to several church members who helped us carry the 800 blankets up 30 stairs to a 110-degree attic in August. Much love.
First Citizens Bank also joined in the effort by allowing our blanket box to be placed in the bank lobby, in which we received many blankets. Thank you for your community service.
Thanks to Police Chief Justin Jacobs for placing blankets in squad cars, allowing police officers to distribute blankets to those homeless or those walking the streets without a coat in the cold. I admire their compassion and dedicated service to our community.
I especially want to thank the Cherokee Scout Publisher David Brown for alerting the community of the need for blankets. He allowed us to use the Scout building as a drop off for the blankets. He also donated the use of the Scout delivery truck and an employee, Burt Dow, to load, deliver and unload the 800 blankets to Little Brasstown Baptist Church.
Thank you, Burt, for all your hard work. We couldn’t have achieved all of this without David’s help. What a blessing you are, David!
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40). “What God sees in secret Himself will reward thee openly.”
May the Lord Jesus bless you all.
The writer is a resident of Murphy.