Nestled in the heart of downtown Paducah lies King’s House Ministry, one of the area’s most benevolent and charitable congregations. Pastor John Fitzgerald leads this non-denominational church in prayer and service every week as he and the parishioners constantly look for ways to help those around them and spread love. With Christmas right around the corner, Fitzgerald is gearing up for the ministry’s annual Christmas Fund Drive to aid families in need around the holidays.
In previous years, the Christmas Fund Drive emphasized the need for toys and bicycles for children to have on Christmas. King’s House plans to place even more importance on the need for children’s presents this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the virus continues to affect employment across the country, the church recognizes that many families are struggling to provide for their loved ones. With parents experiencing the challenges of being laid-off or furloughed from work, King’s House strives to provide as many kids as possible with presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
“It’s really important that we focus on collecting items for those kids in need because a lot of the items we collect are for single moms that don’t have as many resources,” said Pastor Fitzgerald. “We really believe that every child deserves Christmas presents, no matter what situation they or their families might be in. You never know how much good that can bring into that child’s life.”
Besides collecting toys for children, King’s House also encourages people to donate food and clothes for individuals of all ages. As the holiday season nears, the church is already accepting items and monetary donations for the staff to purchase even more resources for those in need. King’s House asks that perishable food be donated closer to Christmas, however, because Pastor Fitzgerald and other volunteers will use the food to prepare meals for senior citizens.
Toys, clothes, and food can be dropped off at the King’s House Ministry any time throughout the week at 1119 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Monetary donations can be dropped off or mailed to the same address. The congregation hopes to see the biggest number of items collected for those in need, as this year’s pandemic has been especially hard on small town families.
“Having God in a neighborhood with people in need is good. When people are going through tough times, it might be difficult for them to see the light in the world,” said Pastor Fitzgerald. “We are just hoping to help out community members in need so that they know they are loved and blessed no matter what.”
Throughout the holiday season, the King’s House Ministry Christmas Fund Drive goes to show how truly generous Paducah’s community is. Even though giving to those in need is especially stressed around Christmastime, King’s House invites anyone and everyone to join and take part in their mission to spread love and provide for those in the community, no matter who they are or what they believe in.
