Fighting Hunger

With the Fighting Hunger 5K less than 10 days away, I coldly and fondly remember the two different years I "camped" on top of the building for an entire week. I experienced all different types of weather up there—extreme thunderstorms, cold and even snow. I did all of this to raise awareness about hunger, our annual 5K race and the Fighting Hunger food drive for local food pantries in the Greater Cincinnati area. While the conditions may have been extreme, it doesn't compare to what people around the world and here in Cincinnati face every day. I was actually the lucky one up there on the roof—I had a tent, a heater and other comforts. Plus, I always had the option of going inside. But most people living in impoverished situations don't have that option. So this year, please think of those in need and how you can help better their lives.

In the photo from left to right: Wendell Mettey (Dad), Chuck Ingram from 700WLW, and me.

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Coats to Appalachia

Each fall we travel to a small school in rural Appalachia—the same school we visit each summer to perform maintenance and an educational camp—to provide underprivileged  children with new, warm coats for the upcoming winter. Earlier this week, our small team of Matthew 25: Ministries staff and representatives from Cintas helped distribute these new coats to the students. The children were all very excited and appreciative to receive these new coats since many of them would not have otherwise had proper clothing to protect them from the cold winter weather.

For one young kindergartener in the group, it was his first year receiving a new coat. He was extremely happy and grateful for his bright blue coat, hat, and gloves. He said he couldn’t wait to play outside in the snow and throw snowballs now, since he’ll have a warm coat to wear.  He smiled so big and pulled the coat tight around himself whenever someone asked him a question, as if he never wanted to let go of this exciting new gift.

View pictures from the trip here.


Any and all links to outside sources and materials are intended for reference only. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of Matthew 25: Ministries and its affiliates.

A Chance Encounter

Sitting in my office, I had the pleasure of overhearing an exchange between a grandmother and grandson in the hallway. The grandson had been volunteering for some service hours and was on his way out when he passed his grandmother, who was coming in to volunteer. Neither of the two knew that the other was going to be here that day. The grandson explained why he was here and his grandmother told him how she has been volunteering here since we were located in Loveland, Ohio. She explained the history of Matthew 25: Ministries to her grandson... I think she explained it better then I could have done. While it seems like a chance happening, this type of encounter actually occurs more often than you know. Loved ones from all over come here to meet up; some intentional and some not. But the thing that stood out to me about the grandmother and grandson was the subject they discussed afterwards. They talked about an ailing family member and how they both where trying to take care of them in their own way. The grandson reassured his grandmother, and she reassured him and this went on for nearly ten minutes. Just by being here, they both helped the poor through volunteering and also were able to help each other through their hard time.