Mount Athletes Help with Cumberland Mobile Loaves and Fishes Ministry

Mount St. Charles' Junior High Boys’ Basketball Team recently had the privilege of helping out Emmanual Church in Cumberland with its monthly Mobile Loaves and Fishes Ministry.  Coach Doug Allen attends Emmanual and had participated in a previous MLF run and thought this would be a great opportunity for the kids to serve those less fortunate.

"It is an exciting new ministry in Rhode Island and I especially like that Emmanual serves those in need in Woonsocket," said Allen.  "We collect clothes and food during the course of the month and the boys got to use their strength and conditioning lugging clothes and boxes of provisions back and forth to the truck from the church storage.  The truck then makes three stops in Woonsocket, at a housing project, a park and a shelter. The truck arrives and each person is given something to eat off one side of the truck and then taken individually around to the other side to shop for clothes.  Each visitor also gets a nice new fresh pair of socks." said Allen.  "Living a life of little dignity, in many cases, this visit provides each person with special treatment helping them grow as a person, and, hopefully, appreciate the great things that Christ can do in one's life."

Mobile Loaves and Fishes – RI, is a thriving ministry with seven participating churches sharing one truck. Currently, the truck is on the streets every Wednesday, every third Thursday, and every Saturday and Sunday. The truck visits several different sites statewide, and strives to serve the homeless and working poor by providing food, clothing, and basic necessities.  Our state’s unique size allows our volunteers to cross community lines easily, serving with people from other towns and other faiths, and truly empowers those volunteers to serve their brothers and sisters in need, with compassion and love. The hope is to continue to grow, adding more sponsoring churches, and more volunteers, enabling the MLF truck to be out on the street every night of the week in Rhode Island.

"It's amazing what you get out of helping people.  You think they're the ones being helped, and in reality it's you.  I think the kids really enjoyed the day,” Allen said. “I know we appreciated their help.  And I'm sure they went home a little bit better person than they were when they arrived."

For more information about Mobile Loaves and Fishes or to volunteer, go to the mlf.org website and click on Locations and Providence.