Volunteers from a dozen South Carolina United Methodist churches took time this week to reach out to their communities with hot cocoa, sweet tea and an invitation to learn more about what Christmas really means.
Joining ambassadors from United Methodist Communications on the “True Meaning of Christmas Tour,” the volunteers gave out free drinks and snacks to visitors to the Charleston City Market on Tuesday, Dec. 19, and to patrons of the EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia on Wednesday, Dec. 20.
A bedecked tour truck is visiting 21 cities in 16 states this year as The United Methodist Church offers a chance to unwrap the true meaning of Christmas.
Volunteers from Asbury-St. James, Bethel, Centenary, Mt. Carmel, Old Bethel, Trinity and Wesley UMCs hosted the Charleston tour stop, while volunteers from Shandon, Washington Street and East Camden UMCs and Epworth Children’s Home helped out at the Columbia event.
Giving back to the community was an important part of the events. Donations for the Homeless to Hope Fund were accepted at the Charleston stop, while personal hygiene items were donated at the Columbia stop.
The Charleston event was blessed with a warm, sunny afternoon and no shortage of foot traffic from visitors to the popular City Market. While many visitors opted for a refreshing cup of sweet tea, most joined in the holiday spirit and swigged hot cocoa.
Columbia volunteers, meanwhile, were greeted by a steady rain, until their friends at EdVenture invited them inside and opened up a nice, dry room from which to dispense hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes.
At both events, volunteers handed out invitations for their visitors to join them for worship services on Christmas Eve and beyond.
Photos from the Charleston tour stop
Photos from the Columbia tour stop
