Get a blessing, give a blessing with free meals on Christmas

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On Christmas Day, Faith Building Mission will set up three feeding sites in Brunswick County where free Christmas meals may be picked up and delivered.

“Christmas is a great time for many of us, but also a sad time for many of us. We want to share the love of Jesus,” said Dean Siler, Faith Building Mission project coordinator. “Everybody knows somebody.”

A free meal of ham or turkey, beans, dressing, potatoes and dessert is available.

The idea is for people to pick up as many meals as they want to deliver to those they personally know who may be in need.

Siler said the meal wasn’t even planned for this year, but he couldn’t ignore the calls he kept receiving. Siler and his family had planned to be out of town, but are staying to make sure the blessings get spread throughout the community.

“After the ninth person called, we canceled our plans to go out of town. We had to look at the others who kept asking me. There was story after story of people looking for something to fill their hearts,” Siler said. “We just really felt people pulling at us. People get a blessing out of delivering the food and preparing it. It’s not about the blessing we get; it’s the blessing other people get. I am so thankful we are doing it now.”

The food preparation site will be at Ocean View Baptist Church, 7025 Beach Drive, Ocean Isle Beach. There will be a sit-down meal for volunteers and others at 2 p.m.

Two additional pick-up sites will be set up at Inman’s Country Store, 2116 Longwood Road NW, Longwood and at Woody’s Grocery, 1111 Holden Beach Road SW, Shallotte.

“We need volunteers to deliver meals and volunteers to prepare the food the day before from 8 a.m. until around noon,” Siler said. “Everybody has an hour or a half hour and they know someone who could use a Christmas meal. Take one hour and pick up the meal and show the love of Christ.”

For more information, call 755-6888 or send a Facebook message to Faith Building Mission and let them know how many meals to prepare for you.

Free hot meals will be available from noon-2 p.m. on Christmas Day.

Rachel Johnson is a staff writer at The Brunswick Beacon. Reach her at 754-6890 or rjohnson@brunswickbeacon.com.