COLUMBIA (WACH) -- What better gift to give this holiday season than one to those in need.
St. John Baptist Church members and volunteers were on hand to feed and offer bagged necessities to those less fortunate as part of their annual Hopeful Fellowship Outreach Program.
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin was there with his oldest daughter to show her the importance of public service, and with over 600 in need attending Friday, it wasn't hard to explain.
"Our family has been blessed beyond measure this year," Benjamin says. "We want to make sure that we share our blessings and that's what we're going to do."
A workshop to raise the spirits of the hopeful also took place. It was overseen by representatives from both St. John and Eau Claire Baptist Church.
Organizers say while spirits were raised, so has attendance.
We have seen an increased number in our food pantry here at St. John Baptist Church as well as a number of people who are coming for the dinner this year," explains Wendell Price with St. John Baptist. "So we continue to have people come and are just thankful that we are doing well enough to be able to assist them.
This was the 13th year the event has been held.
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