Funds group to go to Marion, Virginia in July

CHESAPEAKE— A bean and cornbread dinner by the Chesapeake United Methodist Church on Friday raised funds for the church’s mission trip later this year.

“Our mission trip is an exciting annual event,” the Rev. Charles Case, pastor of the church, said. “We have an ongoing fundraiser for the trip and, this year, a member of our church family wanted to help by putting together his special bean recipe for us.”

Numerous members of the church and community supported the cause and enjoyed pinto beans, Great Northern beans, fried sausage and cornbread.

“This is the first time that we are doing a fundraiser like this for our mission trip,” Case said.

“We’re going to Marion, Virginia July 1-7, and we’ll be building and repairing things for homeowners who are struggling.”

Case said that, on past mission trips, they have built wheelchair ramps, replaced decks, roofs and siding, and more.

“Last year we installed new steel roofing for roofs that were barely functioning,” he said. “The sites that we go to rotate just about every year.”

Case said this is the first time his church is sending people to Marion, Virginia, but that some of the other churches that are partnered with have been there before.

“The total size of the group that goes on the mission trips range from about 35-37 people, and we have five from our church who are going,” he said. “There are three other churches that we work with, mostly from northern Ohio, who have bigger groups going. There are also a lot of kids who take part in this, and we have people of all ages, from junior high all the way as old as 80, who take part.”

Case will be completing eight years as pastor of Chesapeake United Methodist Church at the end of June.