Saturday, March 21, 2009
Vinton church's power of the pump
Vinton Baptist Church connects with the community through volunteer efforts and offering free gasoline.
Photos by Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times
Vinton Baptist Church held "Operation Reach Out" last week. Church member Kay Overstreet stood in the rain with a sign inviting drivers to stop at two Vinton gas stations for $5 in free fuel.
Ralph Kopera, a member of Vinton Baptist Church, pumped gas for a driver. The church gave away $1,500 in gasoline during "Operation Reach Out."
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The cars were splashing rainwater onto Kay Overstreet.
It was 9 a.m. and Overstreet, hiding under a black umbrella as it rained, held a sign that explained why she was standing on the corner of Gus Nicks Boulevard and South Pollard Street in Vinton under such circumstances:
"$5 in FREE Gas. No Questions Asked!!"
Yes, free gas. It was all part of "Operation Reach Out" last week. About a dozen members from Vinton Baptist Church were gathered at an Exxon station. Hands were warm inside pants pockets and smiles were bright on people's faces. Yet the eight gas pumps? No cars were stopping for the free petrol.
Overstreet and the other Vinton Baptist members took part in a day's worth of good Samaritan activities. About 400 volunteers from the church had signed up for the initiative, which was also held in 2007 and 2008.
"We want people to see that we want to do good outside of the church," said Denise Salvi, one of the organizers. "Our interest is not just within the walls of the church."
A block east from the Exxon on Gus Nicks, at Vinton Baptist, many other reach out activities were taking place. In the gym there were more than two dozen children painting cards to put in "Care and Share" gift bags for bedridden members of the church. Across the hall, an assembly line of volunteer cooks made ham, turkey and cheese sandwiches for other volunteers and Bible study participants. In the basement, a roomful of women wrapped neon fuzzy string around the straps of flip flops to donate to a local charity.
Outside were projects that included a Bible study at nearby Blue Ridge Manor apartments. It was held on a lawn, under a tent and next to heaters. Other activities, such as yard work, were postponed.
Meanwhile, at the Exxon, drivers were pulling up more frequently. Volunteer Steve Dean rolled out his pitch:
"Hello. Would you like $5 of free gas?"
A man who had just pulled into the station replied: "Is that a question?"
The two men laughed, and Dean pumped $5 worth of gasoline, or about 2.78 gallons, into the car's tank.
It was noon, and finally the cars were lining up as if free gasoline was being given away.
Organizers had planned on giving away $1,500 in gas at the Exxon and another station down the road. They said they are considering holding Operation Reach Out more often.
Said Salvi: "We could see this becoming a biannual event."
