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MONTGOMERY
STANDARD
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 USPS 361-260
Since 1868
Volume 150, Issue 36
50 cents
Plans coming together for fundraiser
Operation Christmas Child
Event to help cancer patients is Sept. 29
By Megan Gearhart STAFF WRITER
Children in Fiji receive their shoebox gifts as part of the Operation Christmas Child program. New Florence Baptist Church was recognized Aug. 5 for serving as a collection site for the program for the past 15 years. Pictured below, from left, are Tim Holeman, logistics coordinator; Nicole Larkin, droff-off team leader; and Brian Larkin, pastor of New Florence Baptist Church.
Love in a shoebox
New Florence Baptist Church honored for 15 years of helping children through global christmas project New Florence Baptist Church was recognized Aug. 5 for its service to children in need around the world. For more than 15 years, New Florence Baptist Church has served as a drop-off location for Operation Christmas Child. Each year, the Samaritan’s Purse project delivers millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to children affected by war, disaster, disease, poverty and famine. Hundreds of shoebox gifts packed and donated in Montgomery County each year are collected by volunteers at New Florence Baptist Church in New Florence. “Without the generosity of ministry partners like New Florence Baptist Church, Samaritan’s Purse could not reach millions of children around the world with the Gospel. We are thrilled to honor New Florence Baptist Church for 15 years of service and partnership with Operation Christmas Child,” said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse. New Florence Baptist Church has served as a drop-off location since 2004 and, during that time, has collected nearly 5,000 gift-filled shoeboxes from area organizations and individuals. The award presentation was made during the morning worship service on Aug. 5 by Tim Holeman, volunteer logistics coordinator for the Operation Christmas Child local area team, and was presented to Pastor Brian Larkin and his wife, Nicole, who serves as the drop-off location team leader. “We are grateful for New Florence Baptist Church’s annual commitment to transform empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope for children in need each year,” Holeman
said. “These simple shoeboxes can impact children’s lives forever, sending a message that God loves them and they are not forgotten.” More than 90,000 churches and groups in the United States partner with Operation Christmas Child to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to millions of children in need. Nearly 5,000 of those churches serve as drop-off locations for the project. Through
After years of holding an annual Relay for Life event in Montgomery County, some community members are stepping up to create a brand new event this year to support those affected by cancer. The Montgomery County Cancer Supporters Fundraiser event will be held at the fairgrounds Sept. 29 from 2 to 10 p.m., with local food vendors, live music and a family-friendly lineup of activities. The biggest change, said Cancer Supporters Committee member Tammy Banks, is that all of the funds raised through the event will stay in Montgomery County to help local cancer patients. The change was set in motion after Banks said the American Cancer Society announced it was pulling back support of some smaller relays like Montgomery County’s in an effort to downsize. “All of us on the committee got together and talked it out. Some of us were thinking longer than others about going out and doing something on our own, and trying to raise money to help people in Montgomery County, in our own community, and keeping all of the money here,” she said. “Everybody was on board for it.” Banks said the businesses in town have been “huge” supporters of the effort. The funds raised will go toward items like gas cards, hats and scarves and puzzle books. “Anything to help patients to occupy their time with when they’re going through treatment,” Banks said. Other changes this year will include moving the event up to 2-10 p.m. from the 5 p.m. to midnight schedule of previous years in order to better accommodate families with small children. One of the most anticipated features of the Relay for Life — the luminaria ceremony — will still take place during the Cancer Supporters event between 8:30-9 p.m. Banks said the cancer survivors who attend the fundraiser will be welcomed into a survivor’s tent, where they receive free t-shirts and cupcakes. There will be many attractions for children this year, including several bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting, and a corn bin donated by POET in Laddonia. Bingo will also be hosted during the day. A car show will also take place at Continued on Page 3
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4-H clubs across county looking for new members 4-H is the largest youth organization in the nation! It is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills all while having fun. Young people involved in 4-H make new friends, memories, learn new skills, travel, and explore their interests by choosing projects from over 50 different project areas. 4-H is open to youth ages 8-18. There is a special Clover Kids program for kids ages 5-7. Clover Kids can participate in seasonal events, club and county activities and create projects for display at the fair. 4-H encourages participation from the entire family. Youth enroll as 4-H members, while parents and other adults provide support through volunteering to lead projects or support their local club in various ways. 4-H uses an online enrollment sys-
tem that will open on Oct. 1 for enrollment in the 2018-2019 4-H year. In the meantime, attend the September meeting for information on available projects and the enrollment process. The Montgomery County clubs and meeting nights are as follows: n Bellflower Boosters: Meets Third Monday, 6:30 p.m. at Bellflower Community Building, Becky Gilbert, Club Leader — 573-5444836; n Big Spring Busy Beavers: Meets First Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Big Spring Firehouse (June, July, August Meetings and election days, meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.), Trisha Happe, Club Leader — 573-220-2526; n Coon Creek Cronies: Meets First Thursday, 6:30 p.m.at City Hall, Wellsville, Dori Moore, Club Leader — 573-684-8086; n Kountry Kids: Meets Second
Sunday, 7 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Jonesburg, Angela Francois, Club Leader — 636-488-5315; n Middletown Meddlers: Meets Second Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Middletown Community Center, Jill Davis — 573-220-6580, and Kristan Kleinsorge — 573-669-5427 Club Leaders; n Montgomery Progressors: Meets Third Monday, 6:30 p.m. at Montgomery City Library; Erin Polson, Club Leader — 573-544-7866; n Rhineland Explorers: Meets First Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Peoples Savings Bank, Rhineland, Kristal Zerr, Club Leader — 573-694-8905. If you would like additional information, please contact Kim Cullom at the University of Missouri Extension, 310 Salisbury, Ste. E, Montgomery City, 573-564-3733 or email at cullomk@missouri.edu.
Preschooler Adelyn Beshears shows off her “rainbow” made from bits of colored tissue paper after storytime at the Montgomery City Public Library Aug. 27. The library hosts Storytime Adventures for preschoolers every Monday morning at 10 a.m. and promotes early literacy, featuring stories, songs, crafts and movement.