South Bend church delivers lunch to healthcare workers

ST.JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.—One local South Bend church partnered with Chick-Fil-A on Saturday to deliver lunch to healthcare workers at a nursing facility to show their gratitude during these difficult times.

The program coordinator at Greater New Jerusalem M.B Church in South Bend said partnering with the restaurant was all about timing.  

Betts said the event was put on to lift up the spirits at Trailpoint Village nursing home.

“Because when you bless others, God will bless you and that’s what took place here today,” Betts said. “I’m just so elated, and when I went to go pick up the Chick-fil-A I was almost in tears, because it’s such a wonderful blessing, it really touched my heart.”

Betts, along with her sisters in Christ wanted to give back to the community during these difficult times.

Betts called the fast food chain to make an order for the “Lift-Up” lunch event, only to be directed to the owner of the South Bend Chick-Fil-A fast food chain.

 “I just spoke to Mr. Edward Endres and he said that Chick-Fil-A gives out $5,000 to coronavirus, to give to different charities, and they have to spend that amount. So I guess, we just happened to be there at the right time and in partner up with us and we just wanted to give them praise and thanks,” Betts said.

Organizers at the church came up with the idea to go from nursing home to nursing home after Betts saw the staff at her mom’s nursing facility working tirelessly during the pandemic.

“We think the work that they do is not only essential. They are essential heroes. Amen. So that’s why we are here today to bless all 190 of them here,” Lonell Hudson, the pastor at Greater New Jerusalem M.B Church said.

Trailpoint Village was the second nursing home the church had gone to. Betts said they started two weeks ago. During their first nursing home visit at Briarcliff they gave workers praise packages.