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NEWS
Church shares with those in need
Crew Community Church hosted a Christmas party for Marcum Terrace residents on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2008, in Huntington.
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HUNTINGTON -- Santa's arrival at the gymnasium beside the Marcum Terrace housing complex on Thursday made it pretty clear to the 200 or so children there that a holiday celebration was about to begin.
The Christmas party was thrown for the children by Crew Community Church, a young non-denominational church that meets at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday at the old Huntington High School on 8th Street and 9th Avenue.
The church has partnered with Marcum Terrace, off Roby Road, in the past. Earlier this year, a member's idea to help replace playground equipment was one of four community projects selected by United Way of the River Cities. Pastor Josh Perry said running the 5K as a fundraiser was a way to give back, but throwing a Christmas party would leave a big holiday impression.
"We're not doing this just as a good act," Perry said. "It's a response to the generosity that was shown to us by God at Christmas with Jesus."
And, he added, it brings together the Marcum Terrace community and gives the kids an evening of crafts, games, pizza, drinks and photos with Santa.
"I think it's very giving, very unselfish," said Darlena Midkiff, who brought her 13-year-old daughter and 15-month-old granddaughter to the party.
"It's obvious these kids are having a good time," said Cade Elkins, who recently started attending Crew. "We're supposed to be helping other people ... because they are our brothers and sisters."
More than $4,000 was raised through special weekly offerings, and about 60 church members came out to help during the event.
"We always have a party for ourselves," Perry said. "We are a church full of people who have more than enough. We're not the savior of this place. These are our neighbors who for one reason or another don't have the opportunities we have."
