Last Saturday St. John’s participated in the Community Block Party, a yearly event co-sponsored by the Greater Youngstown Community Dialogue on Racism and the local Health Department. The purpose is to help families be healthy. Mahoning County has the second highest black infant mortality rate in the country. We have to do something to change that.
So the Block Party has vendors who give out helpful information on health and welfare. There are games, food and a raffle. And that is where we came in. Members of the church donated 3 huge boxes of diapers for the raffle. People were so grateful. Diapers are expensive!!
Now one time I won a deluxe mattress cover in a raffle, donated by a local company who made it, and it was and still is a very nice mattress cover. However the person after me won a string of lovely pearls. I admit, I was miffed. And so I think about the words winning and box of diapers in the same sentence, and wonder how I would feel.
But that is my privilege talking. If I needed those diapers, I would feel grateful, relieved, maybe even elated. People won tomato plants, and they were beaming. Maybe in a difficult world, any win is a lovely thing. And that is why we donate diapers. It may be what is wanted, and it may be what is needed. But it let’s people know they matter, that we care, and that we are invested in supporting life. Healthy babies, moms and families should be a priority for every member of the Jesus Movement.