About 35 area churches are making a difference for family members of Hamilton Medical Center patients. Church members regularly take food and other items to Hamilton through the Love Thy Neighbor program.
“It’s amazing to see how selfless the people in these churches are,” says Ashley Hasty, Hamilton patient advocate. “And they always come with smiles on their faces.”
Most of the churches bring food — sandwiches and other snacks — on a regular schedule between Monday and Friday. Some also bring items like magazines, toothbrushes, toothpaste and coloring books. Church members either drop off the donations or they go in and deliver the food to family members. Some members have prayed with guests when requested.
When food is dropped off, Hamilton patient advocates put together baskets of food and take them to people who are visiting a loved one.
“We see a lot of people who are going through tough challenges,” says Teresa Williams, patient advocate. “Some of them have told us they wouldn’t have been able to eat while their family member was in the hospital if it wasn’t for the Love Thy Neighbor program.”
Jennifer Mantooth, who works in Hamilton’s laboratory, started the program about six years ago. “At that time, I was working in Surgical Services, and I would have a lot of interaction with patients’ family members,” says Mantooth. “A lot of them didn’t want to leave the waiting room area — even to go to the cafeteria — because they might miss talking with the doctor.”
Mantooth says she talked to some people at her church, Salem Baptist Church in Dalton, and they decided to help feed the family members. She also sent letters to other local churches to see if they would be willing to help.
“It took a life of its own,” says Mantooth. “Family members or friends who received food would go back and tell their churches, and they would get involved.”
In addition to churches, the Whitfield County Association Educational Office Professionals and individuals have donated to the program. According to Williams, about 800 meals per month are provided through the Love Thy Neighbor program. “It’s great that people have stepped up to support this ministry,” she says. “It means a lot to the people who receive a meal.”
“The churches tell us they get a big response from the Love Thy Neighbor program,” says Hasty. “They get thank you cards and some people have gone to the churches to thank them. Seeing God’s love through it all is great. God provides.”
Frances Boyd works with the program through her church, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church. She says her church provides about 50 meals a month for the program. “People are so thankful,” she says. “We’ve received many cards from people who have received food. It’s such a blessing for us to see how people appreciate it. But we receive much more than we give.”
Features
Related Photos
Discussion
Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
February 13, 2010
Loving their neighbors
Area churches providing food for family members of Hamilton patients
- Features
-
-
This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, May 27
A Union offensive near the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., triggers fierce fighting May 31, 1862, at the Battle of Seven Pines just eight miles east of that city.
Continued ... - This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, May 20
- Gordon Hospital hosts free Dinner with the Doctors Seminar
- June Cleaver to Gloria Pritchett: 5 great TV moms
- This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, May 13
- May 12, 2012
- The Rev. Patricia M. Grace: Of mustard seeds and Peacock Alley
- May 11, 2012
- Yard sale Saturday kicks off Salvation Army Week
- May 10, 2012
- Consumer Q’s
- ’Fifty Shades’ too steamy for some library shelves
- May 6, 2012
- This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, May 6
- May 3, 2012
- Consumer Q’s
- Apr 29, 2012
- This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, April 29
- Apr 28, 2012
- 'Tale as old as time ...'
- Apr 26, 2012
- Off to see the Wizard
- Apr 22, 2012
- This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, April 22
-
This Week in The Civil War, for week of Sunday, May 27
No Limits for Disabled Hunters at Mich. Base
Victim Identified in Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
