FOOD FUN: Have fun and support a good cause today. It’s called
“Pack the Pantry,” and it’s a motorcycle dice run being held to
help replenish the Salvation Army’s food pantry.
This benefit, to be held rain or shine, will begin with
registration from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Masonic Hall, 625 South
Ave. The 130-mile run through Pennsylvania and New York will
conclude at the Bradford Salvation Army, 111 Jackson Ave. Cook out
and awards will be at 5 p.m.
There is a fee to participate, and riders should also bring a
can of food per person to help replenish the food pantry.
THIS WEEK: This is Salvation Army week. The Bradford corps goes
back more than 100 years in Bradford – to Oct. 24, 1888. That’s a
lot of decades of service to this community.
In telling us about the Army’s history in Bradford, its leaders
pointed out that its advisory council and officers “often discuss
issues like the economic decline in Bradford. Something needed to
be done to raise funds to help the Salvation Army serve the people
who have been affected by job loss and the other problems that have
arrived due to the economic decline or crisis that are beyond
physical control.”
The dice run is being held not just to raise money for the
Bradford corps’ work within the community but to raise awareness of
the work of the Salvation Army. The run will visit the Kane thrift
store which is managed by the Bradford corps; Warren’s Salvation
Army; and Jamestown’s Salvation Army.
LONG HISTORY: For all but two of its years in Bradford the Army
has been based at 21 Kennedy St. Currently, the Army’s programs are
based out of its Jackson Avenue location, the former Jewish
temple.
In case you didn’t know it, the Army provides programs for all
ages such as youth programs, women’s and men’s ministry and strong
social work programs such as food pantry, utility assistance and
emergency housing.
The Salvation Army also has a strong emergency disaster program
that helps all over the world. Capt. Henry Weigner has helped in
the floods of New Jersey, served at Ground Zero in New York City
and was sent to Katrina in Biloxi, Miss. He also provided
assistance when the flood hit the Weigners hometown of
Carnegie.
