A Wrap on Sharefests 2022
What a blessing it is to see folks from different faith backgrounds coming together at the Sharefests as they abide in God’s love. This year was even more special as we opened back up to allow for more volunteers to participate in the days’ activities. The extra hands and hearts were greatly appreciated. From packing rice and assembling hygiene kits, dental kits, and paper products, to greeting donor vehicles and praying with agencies as they left the parking lots, God was present in our collective work.
Across the seven Sharefests, 84 agencies were served who in turn serve over 40,000 patrons a month. Two of our Sharefests were held in new locations this year at Red Bridge UMC in Kansas City and InterServ in St. Joseph. We celebrate and appreciate the previous Sharefest hosts, St. James UMC (KC) and Cameron UMC (Cameron), for the many years of hard work and love they invested in Festival of Sharing.
We also rejoice in opportunities to meet new leaders, new communities, and to share agency experiences with volunteers. The Sharefests held at InterServ and LifeWise (STL) provide a unique opportunity for volunteers to see and hear how those agencies serve in their communities, as well as give back to the host site. At InterServ, volunteers helped put away the Festival of Sharing donations so the food pantry would be stocked and ready for providing services that following week. At LifeWise, volunteers got their hands a little dirty while working in the community garden pulling weeds and harvesting some of the produce. No matter which station or location you were at, there were plenty of moments of fellowship as volunteers shared stories and laughs.
The work we do could not be possible without the support and partnership of hundreds of churches, groups, and individuals across Missouri. We thank everyone for the time and love invested in collecting and assembling gifts and funds for the agencies we partner with. We appreciate the host sites and the leaders who help plan the logistics of the day from recruiting volunteers and making sure they’re feed and hydrated all day, to engaging with community organizations and being flexible for whatever curveballs the day may throw our way.
