November 28, 2022 |
Carbon County residents put the giving in Thanksgiving this year. Multiple events centered around the annual holiday tradition of feasting fed well over a thousand area people over the last week.
Many folks volunteer to serve free Thanksgiving meals to their community. The Sinclair Baptist Church is one such organization. Terri Schultz, their executive secretary, said these events unify the community.
As many people did over the past week, Sinclair Baptist Church volunteers held a free Thanksgiving dinner. Over 150 people attended. Held for nearly 20 years, executive secretary Schultz said the holiday tradition began as a way to get the church’s name out there.
Reverend Bobbe Fitzhugh is the pastor at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, in Rawlins, St. James Episcopal Church, in Encampment, and Chapel on the Plains, in Medicine Bow.
Like many others, Reverend Fitzhugh offered a free Thanksgiving meal to the community of Medicine Bow. Formerly St. Lukes Episcopal Church, last year Reverend Fitzhugh reopened the building as the non-denominational Chapel on the Plains. The reverend said the charity meal was a great start to her new parish.
Reverend Fitzhugh said between 50 and 60 people attended the free Thanksgiving dinner.
As reported by Bigfoot 99 earlier this year, in her role as pastor of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins, Reverend Bobbe Fitshugh established the St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County. With the help of area law enforcement, churches, and volunteers, Reverend Fitzhugh explained what the charity’s goal is.
St. Christopher’s Highway has grown since it was established last February. On top of the organizations they’ve worked with in the past, such as the Choir Loft thrift store and Michael’s “Big City” Steakhouse, Reverend Fitzhugh said they’ve partnered with new people.
New partners mean there are new opportunities for St. Christopher’s Highway to provide for the needy. In an effort to encourage county residents to give, Reverend Fitzhugh came up with the Reverse Advent Calendar. The reverend explained her idea.
The reverse advent started Sunday with a request for breakfast cereal. Today, St. Christopher’s Highway is asking for earbuds for teenage boys. Mike Luhan, who runs Mike’s Big City Toy Drive, said coming up with gifts for teenagers is tough.
Reverend Fitzhugh said to bring all donations to the Rawlins Police Department at 215 5th Street.
Reverend Fitzhugh said the St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County has helped a lot of people. She said winter weather has created a larger demand for the charity’s services. People traveling along Interstate 80 during snow will stop and request assistance from St. Christopher’s Highway. The reverend said her organization has been helping travelers with public transit.
St. Christopher’s Highway has provided the Memorial Hospital of Carbon County and the Rawlins PD with totes filled with clothing and other items. Called comfort kits, they contain clothing and other items needy travelers may need. Reverend Fitzhugh said they have started deploying the comfort kits at other locations.
Reverend Fitzhugh said word of St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County has spread. She has received calls from hospitals in Laramie and Red Lodge, Montana, asking about the comfort kits.
Whether people need food or help getting to their destination, there are a number of local charities in Carbon County that provide aid. St. Christopher’s Highway of Carbon County has been offering assistance to people traveling through our area.
