NEW BETHLEHEM, PA. (RVO) by Cecelia Harmon – In a valiant effort to keep the most susceptible members of our community safe in the face of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, the Redbank Valley Church Association has started the “Love Your Neighbor” project.

This program allows for complimentary delivery of groceries and medications to individuals who are unable to leave their homes in the current pandemic. With cases of the novel coronavirus being reported in Clarion County, the CDC recommends everyone who can to practice social distancing and those who are at a higher risk to stay home as much as possible. This leaves many community members isolated in their homes, needing assistance. 

RVCA ‘Love Your Neighbor’ Committee: RVCA Publicity Coordinator David Green, New Bethlehem Mayor Gordon Barrows, RVCA Secretary Debbie Silvis, TechReady Consultant Cecelia Harmon, TechReady Consultant Matt Green, Pastor Doug Henry and Pastor Tonya Hockenberry

This project is being led by Tonya Hockenberry, pastor of the Hawthorn Church of the Nazarene. She believes that showing kindness to our fellow community members allows the local churches to continue ministering to their congregations and fulfills Jesus’s command in Luke 10:27: 

“He [Jesus] answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 

*Flyer courtesy of Cecelia Harmon of TechReady Professionals & RedbankValley.org

The Redbank Valley Church Association invites everyone who is in a high-risk group for COVID-19 to participate. 

The CDC defines high risk group to include:

• Seniors 65+ 
• Immunocompromised individuals
• Pregnant Women
• Those with pre-existing respiratory conditions 

The groceries and medications themselves are at the expense of the individual. Please contact your local church first if you wish to participate in this program. For those who do not have a church home or for those whose church does not have a designated volunteer, they are still welcome to participate by visiting RVChurchAssociation.org/love-your-neighbor.

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The “Love Your Neighbor” program is in need of volunteers to organize and deliver these services. The Redbank Valley Church Association does not recommend those who are or share a household with someone in a high-risk group or anyone undergoing travel related quarantine to serve as a delivery volunteer at this time. However, there are other things that can be done remotely for those that wish to volunteer while practicing social distancing or under quarantine. All volunteers and participants will be required to sign a liability waiver. Interested volunteers should contact Pastor Tonya Hockenberry. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this project!

Contact:
Pastor Tonya Hockenberry
Phone:  814-365-5424
Cell:  814-746-0245
Email:  [email protected]
Website: RVChurchAssociation.org/love-your-neighbor

A special thank you to the following:
Redbank Valley Church Association
All of our amazing volunteers & community members
Pastor Tonya Hockenberry, Hawthorn Church of Nazarene
Pastor David Nagele, Cornerstone Church of God
Pastor Doug Henry, Leatherwood Church
David Green, RVCA Publicity Coordinator
Debbie Silvis, RVCA Secretary
Edward Goth, Emergency Coordinator
Lisa Kerle, President, New Bethlehem Borough
Sandra Mateer, Vice President, New Bethlehem Borough
Matthew Green, TechReady Professionals
Cecelia Harmon, TechReady Professionals
Gordon Barrows, Mayor of New Bethlehem PA