By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Pates Chapel Baptist Church’s Children’s Ministry joined with The Hope for Christmas for Haiti Ministry sponsored by Good Shepherd Ministries to provide items for children in Haiti.

The children of Pates Chapel, including the Wednesday night children’s program and the Sunday night AWANA Club kids, collected enough items to fill 72 bags to distribute to individual boys and girls in Haiti.

“They were very excited to feel like they were helping someone,” Kenneth Hayes, chairman of deacons at Pates Chapel, said. “I think the children understood that they were helping kids who had less than them.”

According to Hayes, about 32 children worked on the project. Some of the items collected include washcloths, small toys, crayons, books and pencils. Food items such as rice, beans and hard candy were also collected.

The children helped pack the bags into 18 donated banana-shipping boxes for transport to the mission in Haiti.

During Vacation Bible School this past summer, the children collected money to cover the shipping cost of approximately $450.

The church as a whole participated in making this event a success. Pates Chapel expressed appreciation for the leadership of Dena Jones, Tonya Ray, Katina Hayes, Mack Hayes and Senior Pastor, Gary Jones in assisting the children.

Through this project, Good Shepherd Ministries hopes to collect more than 2,500 bags to distribute to individual children in Haiti and bring these children the hope of Christmas.

GSM operates three schools and a medical center in Haiti. Their ministry focuses on discipleship, Christian education and medical care.

If you would like more information about GSM, you may contact Lamar Lyon at 334-301-4764. Pates Chapel is located at 190 County Road 295 in Jemison.