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FORTY FORT — Members of the Dorranceton United Methodist Church were out in full force on Sunday.

Some prepared and served meals at the St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen in Wilkes-Barre, while others made Welsh cookies in the church kitchen to raise funds for an international mission project.

A total of 14 teams from the church’s “The Church Has Left The Building” program served the community with various tasks by simply lending a hand to those who need it.

Natalie Staron, 40, chairperson for The Church Has Left the Building, was one of the volunteers at the Step by Step Inc. group home on Wyoming Avenue. Volunteers decorated the group home with fall decorations ranging from scarecrow characters and pumpkins to flowers on the front lawn.

“The church and the Christian belief is about helping others,” Staron said. “It’s about going out and doing nice things for other people, sharing our gifts and our talents and our interests.”

Staron said all the projects are funded through donations from church members, and no funds are used from the church budget.

Staron explained The Church Has Left The Building program has taken place one day a year for the past five years. She explained the original goal when the program started in 2011 was to help provide relief for victims of the 2011 flood when other projects couldn’t be completed.

Since then, the program has grown to 14 teams spreading throughout the area.

“It doesn’t raise money for the church; it doesn’t benefit the church other than helping the people to feel good about helping others,” Staron said.

While many of the projects benefit the local community, others also lend a helping hand on a national and international level.

The Welsh cookies benefit the Heifer International project, a charity with a goal to end hunger and poverty.

Cheri-Kim Race, assistant service director of the group home, was very thankful for the decorations, and added the residents would also surely appreciate them.

“I think it is a fabulous gift,” she said. “For the ladies who live here to have people take interest in them, and come and do this for them not expecting anything in return, is wonderful.”

Staron said The Church Has Left The Building will increase its impact next year.

“Next year, we’re looking to do it quarterly,” she said. She explained the group would do less projects, but spread them out throughout the year to be able to better extend a helping hand for those in need.

Natalie Staron, a member of the Dorranceton United Methodist Church in Kingston, waters flowers outside of a Step by Step Inc. group home in Forty Fort for a program called, “The Church Has Left the Building.” The program aims to make a difference in the community.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100515churchtk21.jpg.optimal.jpgNatalie Staron, a member of the Dorranceton United Methodist Church in Kingston, waters flowers outside of a Step by Step Inc. group home in Forty Fort for a program called, “The Church Has Left the Building.” The program aims to make a difference in the community. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Mary Fino, a member of the Dorranceton United Methodist Church in Kingston, plants flowers at a Step by Step Inc. group home in Forty Fort for a program called, “The Church Has Left the Building.” Tom Hovey also participated in the project at the group home.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/web1_TTL100515churchtk11.jpg.optimal.jpgMary Fino, a member of the Dorranceton United Methodist Church in Kingston, plants flowers at a Step by Step Inc. group home in Forty Fort for a program called, “The Church Has Left the Building.” Tom Hovey also participated in the project at the group home. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

By Travis Kellar

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Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews