News Details (Posted: November 9, 2009):

Annual blanket drive benefits homeless

Contact Information:

Janice Tarleton
623.551.1133

Full Description:

If you have some extra blankets or warm jackets lying around, Vineyard Church @ Anthem – and the homeless – could use them.

The church is collecting blankets (twin size or larger) and jackets, new or clean and gently used, to distribute to the homeless in downtown Phoenix on Dec. 12. Blankets may be dropped off between now and Dec. 10 at the following Anthem locations:

Vineyard Church @ Anthem, 42105 N. 41^st Drive

 VCA Church House, 4303 W. Diburgo Drive

Daisy Mountain Fire Department, all four station locations

 Anthem Community Center (main desk)

Ace Hardware, 3440 West Anthem Way

Walgreens, 41125 N. Daisy Mountain Drive

Last year, a record 285 blankets and 30 sleeping bags were collected and distributed to the homeless as part of Vineyard Church @ Anthem’s fifth annual blanket drive. In addition, 141 jackets were handed out, along with Spanish/English Bibles and seven cases of water.

During the past five events, members of Vineyard Church @ Anthem have delivered nearly 1,000 blankets to the homeless, along with coats, sweatshirts, water and Bibles.

It’s a Thanksgiving tradition that began back in 2003 when a couple wandered into VCA’s church service, then held in a hotel meeting room. Turns out the couple was living in their car and church members rallied to feed them, provide gas as well as blankets for warmth. The couple moved on a few weeks later but the plight of this poor pair sparked an awareness and desire to make a difference.

“We believe in doing the stuff Jesus did and that includes taking care of poor and hurting people,” said Senior Pastor Terry Tarleton, “We just didn’t know where to start until that couple came along. We gathered 100 or so blankets and took them to downtown Phoenix where we distributed them in minutes…and we were hooked.”

Of the 7,300 homeless people in the Phoenix Metro area, nearly 5,000 are unsheltered, according to a January 2007 study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “We believe in doing the stuff Jesus did and that includes taking care of poor and hurting people,” said Senior “We can’t solve the problems of nearly 7,300 homeless, but we can do something and we want to do more,” Tarleton said.

Monetary donations are also welcome and are tax deductible. For more information or to help with the blanket distribution, call Vineyard Church @ Anthem at 623.551.1133 or e-mail tonya@vineyardanthem.com.

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