The 134-year-old Fenimore Street United Methodist Church (FSUMC) in Brooklyn on Saturday continued its quarterly mission of providing lunch and entertainment, with donations of food, clothing, toiletries and toys, to families at three homeless shelters in New York City.
Marlene Ferguson, the Trinidadian-born chairperson of the church’s Family Life Committee, told Caribbean Life that 65 men, women and children from Boulevard Family Residence in Queens, Hospitality House in Staten Island and Children’s Rescue Fund East in Manhattan were the recipients of Saturday’s event.
“Under our church theme of ‘Loving God and Loving People’, our moral imperative is to feed and help our neighbors, and our mission is to advocate love and care for homeless/less fortunate families,” said Ferguson, who is also a retired registered nurse at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and University Hospital of Brooklyn, stating that the committee “exemplified” the church’s mission on Saturday.
She said the event was initiated “to ensure that our families and children were fully equipped with the necessary school supplies prior to returning to school.”
Through generous donations from the church’s congregation, friends and families, and funding from the United Methodist Church’s Frontier Foundation, Ferguson said the committee was able to purchase backpacks and school supplies for distribution to the children in attendance.
“Every child, including the children from our congregation, received a backpack with supplies,” she said, adding that backpack and supplies were also given to church members to distribute to their neighbors, children and Godchildren, at their request.
“We believed that no child should be left behind,” Ferguson continued. “The child can only progress, given the required tools and support for the classroom.”
She said new clothing, slightly used clothing, new shoes and toiletries were also distributed.
Despite the sumptuous lunch and refreshments – ice cream, cake and fruits – Ferguson said the highlight of the event was the “fun times of games and activities”, coordinated by the church’s pastor, the Rev. Roger Jackson, and First Lady Kim Jackson.
“Since their assignment at Fenimore, they have been active participants of these events,” she said. “They purchase the games, prizes to be awarded, and they are the ones who direct the games.”
Ferguson said the games included tug-a-war, musical chairs, sack race, dart and tossing the ring.
“The games kept us all on our feet, dancing, laughing and screaming in support of your team,” she said. “The clients’ participation in all activities was exceptional.
“As I observed them in action and thought of their circumstances, they were still full of joy and verbalized their appreciation for what we did,” she added, stating that the event required “multiple participants to coordinate the activities, and we were fortunate to have our volunteers.”
Ferguson said the committee was grateful to the youth of the church and other volunteers at the event.
In volunteering at the event with, along with her youthful first cousins – Zoria Thorpe, Shadae Gooding and Shilah Griffith – Shanae Als said she was delighted to offer a helping hand.
“It wouldn’t be Fenimore if it wasn’t service,” said Als, who, as well as her first cousins, grew up in the church. “I learned about homeless people here.”
Thorpe chimed in: “I’m grateful to show up and support.”
Gooding added: “It’s always good to help the less fortunate. It’s a great joy to see that they appreciate everything.”
Ferguson also complimented her daughter, Dechelle Ferguson, and Allister Aird, who served as DJs.
“At the conclusion of this event, I was elated, exhausted and grateful to all who attended and participated in some way, somehow big or small,” she said.
“As the chairperson of this exemplary committee, I thank God for surrounding me with a co-chair, Sis. Minerva Beaton (Guyanese national), who is equipped to carry the role at a moment’s notice,” Ferguson added. “I thank God for members who are devoted, committed, dependable, loving and respectful. These are the qualities required of us as workers in God’s vineyard.”
Simon Chick, director of Community First, a pantry in lower Manhattan, and Shally Wong, a volunteer, also attended the event.
“It’s feeding the community and the shelter,” Chick, who co-sponsored the event, told Caribbean Life. “It’s very good.”
Joe King, recreational coordinator at Hospital House, said he wanted the homeless families “to see beyond Sunday (Worship) Service.
“More people will join the church if they know the church is involved in the community,” he said. “I always appear. So, when they call, I stop what I’m doing.
“The hospitality is incredible,” he added. “And they (homeless families) go back to the community knowing that churches care.”
Majorie Fisher, a Jamaican-born member of the committee that oversees the United Methodist Church’s Parish Development Grant, said she was greatly heartened by the event.
“It’s a wonderful thing they’re doing for the community,” she said. “I’m so impressed. It’s needed.
“As a church, it’s not only identifying the needs of the community, but it’s also meeting that need,” she added. “It’s meeting the whole family, providing stuff to the parents and children.”
Pastor Jackson said: “I think Family Life (Committee) always exceed their expectations.”
Ferguson said The Family Life Committee is one of the mission ministries at FSUMC, located at the corner of Fenimore Street and Rogers Avenue.
Since its inception in 1995, she said the committee has organized quarterly luncheons, with donations of food, clothing, toiletries and toys, for around 9,000 homeless/less fortunate children, youth, women and men through partnership with New York City Department of Homeless Services.
“I believe that this mission is a fulfillment of my calling from God,” Ferguson said. “He initiated this ‘love of caring’ in me when I accepted my call to become a nurse. Caring for others is my passion.
“As long as I am able, I will continue on this mission to feed until they want no more,” she added. “I thank the community, friends and other churches for helping to make this project a success. To God be the glory for the great things he has done!”
