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Thursday, October 02, 2008 10:26 AM Boys group gathers coats for needy By Janet Conner-Knox | Times Staff Writer Fourteen-year-old Ishmael Bishop has a philosophy. Everybody needs a coat, he says, and he tells it to everyone he meets. Ishmael, along with several other boys at Jackson Chapel Church, are collecting coats from anyone who will donate them, so they can give them out during their church's Thanksgiving dinner in November. The boys are members of a group called Focus, and their mission, in addition to camping, hiking and doing other teen activities together, is to do outreach work in the Wilson community. "We are trying to collect at least 100 coats to give to people who need them," said Ishmael. "It's about to get cold, and everybody needs a coat." Tony Ellison, a church member and one of the men who sponsors the group, said the boys have been collecting the coats for a few weeks now. The coats can be slightly used or new, for any gender, and can be for babies, children or adults. "There are a lot of people in our community that don't have the basics in life," said Ellison. "We are trying to help the community, and also while we help the community, we are teaching the boys the Christ-like way of loving your fellow man." The boys, so far, said they have asked their family members and neighbors for coats they have outgrown or just don't like anymore, but have only collected about 20 coats so far. "We are going to need more coats," said 13-year-old Marcus Barnes. "We don't want to tell people that we don't have a coat for them." Tyrone Batts, another 13-year-old boy in the Focus group, said the outreach work he is now doing has made him realize how blessed he is. "I have a coat," said Tyrone. "When I put on my coat in the winter, I didn't think that other kids and their parents might not have coats." Focus plans to give the coats away on a first-come, first-served basis during the free Thanksgiving dinner at the church on Nov. 22, the Saturday before Thanksgiving Day. "Last year we gave away turkey dinners with all of the trimmings," said Darryn Bullock, another adult sponsor. "But this year, we are cooking dinner for the community and inviting them to church." As visitors come to dinner, if they need a coat, they can pick one out. But the group has got a lot of work to do to reach their goal of 100 coats. They said they will come to pick up coats if they are called, or the coats can be delivered to the church. They want to get the coats early enough so they can take them to the cleaners, if the coats need to be spruced up a bit. The group has been having car washes and other fund-raisers to be able to fund some of their activities, and for doing things like taking the donated coats to the cleaners. The boys will have a car wash on Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. until noon, so they can afford to pay to have the coats cleaned. Bullock said these kind of activities are rewarding on all levels. "I really enjoy working with these boys and showing by example what real men do," he said. "Many of the boys don't have fathers. I didn't have my father in my life either. So spending time with these guys has become one of the most important things I do." janet@wilsontimes.com | 265-7847 |
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