OLEAN – The Olean First Baptist Church will be holding a Share Our Blessing garage sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Proceeds from the sale at 133 S. Union St., Fellowship Hall Church, will benefit the African American Cultural Center for Development; Literacy of Love and its orphanage in Uganda; India Orphanage project in Guntur, India; and Crutches for Africa.
The First Baptist Christian Missions Council is hosting the one-day event. A range of donated items are available for those who enjoy finding a good deal while supporting a good cause, with choices ranging from housewares, books, small furniture, gadgets and clothing.
Raffle tickets for a quilt donated by Carol Treaster will be available for $ 1 each. Christmas stockings in two sizes (14 and 18 inches), with decorative trims that include sports team themes, will be raffled off at $ 5 and $ 10 per chance to benefit The India Orphanage Project.
For many years, Pastor Gona Calebu was pastor of a small congregation in the village of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He and his wife opened their small house not only to people as a place of worship, but also provided a daily meal of rice for orphans and elderly widows. As soon as a small piece of land was available, the men and women of the church built a small church building. The men dug the ground with shovels and sticks. The women collected stones, dirt and rubble in large bowls and carried them over their heads and shoulders, all a labor of love.
When their son Joshua was old enough, Pastor Gona and his wife searched until they found a suitable Christian bride for him. Joshua took his place alongside his father as pastor. When Pastor Gona suffered a stroke and became bedridden, Joshua brought him home and helped his mother take care of him, in addition to providing daily meals for orphans and elderly widows. Pastor Gona died of COVID in June 2021.
Pastor Joshua, his wife and three young children carry on the legacy. In the fall of 2020, as the pastor was distributing blankets to the elderly in his village, a lady approached him to offer him a small piece of land. He gratefully accepted and announced his intention to build a small orphanage. It would be a living space for orphans as well as a home for elderly widows who would help take care of the children.
With the donation of land, the Indian orphanage project began. Members and friends of the Piecemakers of Central Baptist Church began creating quilts, tote bags, table tops and bathrobes in exchange for donations to the project. The fabrics, fleece and yarn were donated by a number of local and outdoor quilters.
Construction of the orphanage began with a pile of 100 handmade red bricks. The walls are up, the windows are back in and the plumbing and electrical work is underway. COVID has claimed hundreds of lives in the region and hospitals and medical staff are unable to meet all needs, especially orphans and the elderly. Quilting projects help raise funds for the orphanage.
The African American Center for Cultural Development is still in the works at 214 N. Barry Street in a Victorian house donated by local attorneys Jack Hart and Ed Wagner in July. The house will celebrate Olean’s black history. The new center will have space for theatrical productions, research and a room for children. A commercial kitchen with a coffee project (Café Afrique) is also in progress.
Olean was on the Underground Railroad route to Buffalo and Canada. Many people who came here via the Underground Railroad stayed. No runaway slaves who passed through Olean were ever returned, according to local historians. AACCD’s plans include setting up a metro tour with videos and photos shown in the basement of the center.
Literacy of Love is a non-profit organization founded by local teacher Cari Matejka, who is also a member of the Olean First Baptist Church. Crutches for Africa is looking for donations of used crutches.
