Reprinted from Haverhill Eagle-Tribune
Friday, July 25, 2003

All invited to community caring party

By Marcia Stanley
Staff Writer

HAVERHILL -- Members of Somebody Cares New England took to city streets this week to practice random acts of kindness toward the elderly, poor and youth.

The week's worth of community service and food distribution will culminate in two neighborhood block parties tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Union Park, Union Street and Fourth Avenue and at the Spanish Pentecostal Church of God, 108 Winter St. All are welcome.

Free food, games and giveaways will highlight the events in addition to the distribution of nonperishable food and personal items.

Somebody Cares New England is part of the not-for-profit Houston-based Somebody Cares America. Founder Doug Stringer visited with the Haverhill group this week to support their endeavors.

"We do this to encourage communities to cross racial and denominational lines to work together and multiply resources for the betterment of their community," Stringer said.

The New England branch of Somebody Cares is trying to buy part of the former Bradford College campus to open a college called Bradford School of Ministry.

Calling it Chain Reaction 2003, group members hail from area churches and nonprofit organizations. By transforming their passion for God into compassion for people, members hope to spark a "domino effect" of kindness and good deeds in the larger community.

Work crews volunteered by cleaning Emmaus House, assisting Emmaus clients at the drop-in center on White Street and by sprucing up Union Park, removing graffiti, repairing the basketball court and adding new fencing.

Coordinator Marlene Yeo, a pastor at Grace Ministries International, Brentwood, N.H. and board member of Somebody Cares New England, arranged to have a tractor trailer filled with food and household items delivered to the United Way warehouse in Ward Hill. Inmates from the Essex County Correctional Alternative Center in Lawrence separated and organized the 32 pallets for distribution to 13 food pantries and feeding programs.

"This is something we would like to do every month," Yeo said.

As the group plans to conclude its week of benevolence, plans are underway to hold monthly board meetings of Somebody Cares New England at United Way offices and to plan a fall event. Any church or organization is welcome to participate Yeo said.

"Our point of connection is that the poor need help and our goal is to facilitate community and church groups to network for the good of the whole community," she said.

Copyright© 2003 Eagle-Tribune Publishing. All Rights Reserved.

For CSI's announcement launching Chain Reaction, go here.