Church volunteers contributed the food and managed its distribution under the direction of Sandra Fortune. One volunteer recruited by Wilma Zalabak from the Franklin Road area, found the church volunteers so welcoming and fun that she decided she wants to attend soon. Some of the Pathfinders were present in uniform and made connection with the chair of this program who will open ways for further meaningful mission projects in this area.

Marietta Church volunteers were also responsible for the health screenings. They screened blood pressure, blood glucose, body fat, body water, and dental. Dr. Dan Busch gave the parents the dental screening certificate needed for transfer students to enter Georgia schools. One family who came through the blood pressure screening rejoiced to see the name Marietta Adventist Church at the top of the paper. They are Adventists who have recently moved from Peru and did not know how to find an Adventist Church. There was great rejoicing, and Melissa Mohr, director of the health screenings, said she felt the whole event was worth it to find that one family.

Wilma Zalabak, coordinator of the Marietta Adventist Church’s part of the event, believes it was worth it to that same extent on a good many fronts. Many connections were made and relationships begun or enhanced.

Franklin Road has been identified as a federal project in the program called "Weed and Seed," helping weed out bad elements and seed good for the future. "Many of my friends there have never spent time with anyone committed to Jesus," says Zalabak, "but they're learning now, and as they begin to love Jesus, the joy of it tranforms their faces."

By Wilma Zalabak, M.Div.

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Georgia-Cumberland Conference Mission for Serving Others:
Serve others and build relationships through involvement in a wide variety of community activities and agencies.