For several years, the People-to-People ministry at Mount Hope has continued to meet the needs of the under resourced in the city of Lowell. In addition to special programs throughout the year, this ministry serves a meal once every six weeks in conjunction with the Community Table program at the Greater Lowell YMCA, located at 35 YMCA Drive in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Volunteer ministry leader Eileen Habelow recently took some time to talk more about People-to-People and how the church can get involved.

Q: How did you get started with leading People-to-People?

A: I knew about the ministry because I heard about it through Mount Hope. I wanted to volunteer but never got to it. I approached Pastor Brian about this when the leadership position opened up. God really put it on my heart and it was the perfect time.

Prior to heading up People-to-People, Steve and Sharon Viola led this ministry for six years. They had a process and a plan, and they also had a really great core group of people who would help consistently. This ministry is a sacrifice and the Violas laid a great foundation.

Q: Why did you want to get involved with leading People-to-People?

A: One, it’s a really practical thing for me. I travel a lot for my job so I can’t commit to a lot of mid-week things. I’m in human resources at an international recruiting company based in Atlanta. So, I was really looking for something to commit to on the weekend, and I thought I can commit to this.

Second, my mom has always been very mission minded. She organizes a lot of local outreach stuff at her church in Delaware. My mom has worked with the poorest of the poor on the streets in Delaware as well. I think I learned a heart for the disenfranchised from her.

Q: What excites you the most about this ministry?

A: It’s a really good opportunity to stay in touch with reality and to interact with people. I try to be really encouraging and positive to the disenfranchised - to treat these people like they are valuable. It’s really an opportunity to show them we care and to get involved in the real world.

Q: For someone who may not know, tell me what is People-to-People?

A: We’ll put an announcement in the Sunday bulletin, asking people to sign-up for food donations about two weeks before the group goes up to the Lowell YMCA.

Then, the day before the group goes up to the YMCA, I go to the church to look at the sign-up sheet to see what people have donated. After I see what has been donated, I’ll go grocery shopping to buy whatever else is needed for meal preparations.

The morning that we serve the meal, I cook at the church for an hour and a half. Then, I bring the food up to Lowell YMCA by 12:15/12:30 p.m. to set up the tables. The YMCA is only involved in giving us the space – we’ve got to set up the serving area, warm the food, and set up the tables. We start serving around 1:30 p.m. and we usually wrap up about 3:30/4 p.m.

Q: What are the current volunteer needs?

A: At the YMCA is where we need the most help - with the set up, serving, and clean up. The full-time commitment is 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. one Saturday every six weeks. But if people can only stay to set up, serve, or clean up I’m willing to discuss part-time help too.

To learn more about how you can get involved with the People-to-People ministry contact Eileen Habelow at 617-710-6730.