Garden Spot townlively.com
JANUARY 11, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LIX • NO 3
Fighting Food Insecurity 24/7 Partnership Brings Little Food Pantry To Blue Ball
few years ago, neighbors Darlene Rissler and Melissa Mabry were chatting during a yard sale. Mabry shared that the stewardship committee at VAL-CO Industries, New Holland, where she is an accountant, was looking for a way to give back to the community. She mentioned forming a partnership between VAL-CO and Blue Ball Church of the Brethren (COB), where Darlene is a member and her husband, Quentin, is lead pastor. “(VAL-CO Industries) wanted to do a little free pantry. (VAL-CO) wanted to construct it but to place it in a more visible spot,” noted Darlene, who pointed out that the church location at 1005 E. Main St., Blue Ball, met the requirements. “We were looking for someone to stock it if we built it,” explained Mabry. The advent of COVID-19 restrictions delayed progress of the project,
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but in October 2022, VAL-CO employees began constructing the pantry based on plans drawn up by VAL-CO designers. Darlene had hoped to have the pantry in place at the church by Christmas, and shortly before the holiday, the structure was delivered. “PowerPro (Equipment of New Holland) brought a forklift to unload it, and that’s appreciated,” said Quentin. The small, red structure now sits in the church parking lot. The storm door on the front bears the words “Blue Ball Community Food Pantry Take what you need, leave what you can.” Inside the pantry are five deep shelves stocked with a variety of food items, as well as cleaning products. “There are no strings attached,” said Darlene. “If you need something, just stop and get it.” “We are not looking to replace food banks,” said Quentin. “We are looking to supplement 24/7 … to bridge the gap when food banks are not open.” See Food Pantry pg 5
Child’s Play
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
NHAHS Display Celebrates Toys Of Yesteryear
Christmas Tree Recycling . .3
Brent Henderson To Speak At Sportsman Banquet
BY ANN MEAD ASH
BY ANN MEAD ASH
Whether recounting stories of catching black mambas by hand or surviving a shipwreck off the Alaskan coast, outdoorsman, author, and Christian musician Brent Henderson has one goal for his audiences. “They are listening to more than great outdoor stories,” said Henderson. “(Because) there’s a relationship (they) can have with the One who made it all.” See RTCM pg 2
Lou Ann Miller (left) and Liz Bicking display J. Chein & Company metal toys on loan by Bicking to the New Holland Area Historical Society Museum.
Shortly after Thanksgiving 2022, Lou Ann Miller, who coordinates the displays for the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) Museum, began clearing out an exhibit to make room for a collection of metal toys produced by J. Chein & Company beginning in 1903. The display overflows two cases into two smaller additional displays. Miller wanted the toys to be on exhibit for children and parents who visited during the holidays, but the colorful pieces of children’s playthings collected by Liz Bicking and her late husband, Lawrence, will be on display into the spring and maybe the summer. See NHAHS pg 4
NEW YEAR, N E W F LO O R I N G . Cheers to 2023! We’re excited about this year and the new LVP flooring color options we’ve added to more than 30 in-stock.
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Members of Blue Ball Church of the Brethren and employees of VAL-CO Industries surround the free community pantry placed at the church through a partnership between the two organizations.
Music, Art Programs Planned At GSV . . . . . . . .6 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9 House Of Worship . . . . . .12
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BY ANN MEAD ASH