Community rallies together to give back to those in need

GEORGETOWN, Del. – Christmas eve was just as busy as any other day at the Shepherd’s Office. Volunteers bustled around the kitchen, packing meals and handing out clothes to people in need.

“We lose our sight of what Christmas is about. Jesus was homeless,” said volunteer, Rebecca Burk. “If you have extra food, give that plate to that person.”

Plate after plate was prepared for community members in Georgetown, some homeless, others just hungry. Shepherd’s office director, Jim Martin, said it takes a village to make giving back to this scale, possible.

“A lot of the food that’s in there now is prepared in someone’s house, on their own expense,” Martin said. “They come and drop it off, so that’s how we share the burdens of people and that’s how it’s possible, cause to do this by yourself it’s impossible.”

To Martin, being there for a neighbor in need can go a long way.

“Sometimes you can’t see a broken heart; you can’t see it or hear it because it’s not right there, but you can see what’s happening around them. As things are falling apart around them, we try to help them pick up the pieces by providing food and clothing,” Martin said.

After another successful event, Martin has a message for those looking for light in the darkness.

“Hope is the key word, now that it’s Christmas eve,” Martin said. “Let’s try to rally around the word hope. We take the ‘less’ out of hopeless and we create some hope by teaming up and creating some positivity.”