Local Church Program Helps Families in Need

A local Riverdale church is offering a program for underprivileged families to receive toiletries, cleaning supplies and baby items for free.

The program known as Bountiful Blessings will offer supplies not covered by Medicare and food stamps to people within the Riverdale community through St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church. Bountiful Blessings was created by Terri Orendi, a native of Mechanicsburg, Penn., in 2001. St. John is the 12th church to participate in the program.

The Rev. Susan L. Tyykila, who coordinates the program with the help of volunteers, said they started the program in February but haven't gotten a huge response.

The second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, Tyykila said, the group offers eligible residents non-food items like toothbrushes, toliet paper, shampoo, laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid.

"They must have proof of an address and some sort of income," she said. "Also, they must show us a picture ID."

For any of the baby items, Tyykila said, recipients must show a birth certificate.

"The only other thing we ask is that each recipient volunteers at the church or within the community," she said.

Riverdale Park resident David Duffany, a church member and volunteer, said the program helps give a needy family a boost.

"It's not giving them a hands down," Duffany said, "it's a hands up."

He said the items available are collected by Orendi, who asks other churches and large companies to donate items, and distributed out of a warehouse to the church.

Mo Harrison, another church member and volunteer from Riverdale, said she likes helping those in need.

"I started out working with homeless people in D.C. years ago," Harrison said, "and I feel if this program can help people in need, well it's wonderful."

Bountiful Blessings is open on the second Wednesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the fourth Wednesday of each month from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.