Over Christmas break, the Denver Hispanic (Pecos) Church and Mile High Academy partnered in a clothing drive. Since December 9, 2022, more than 2,000 refugees have arrived in the city of Denver, among them several Adventist families. The church has had an increase of visitors who have expressed a dire need for winter clothing, shoes, hats, gloves, personal hygiene items and even household items.
When word of these needs came to MHA, the Denver Park Hill Church, La Nueva Esperanza Adventist Church, and the community all responded immediately by bringing bags and bags of items that would benefit the recent refugees. A team of community members from MHA and the ministry team from Pecos Church joined forces to sort and separate these items in MHA’s cafeteria. The church community outreach team then transported the items to the Pecos Church to be made available for those in need.
On December 28, the need was such that items were delivered personally to several Adventist families who had just arrived with this surge. On Sabbath, December 31, the church opened its doors, shared lunch, and distributed dozens of bags to several families and individuals. As the city scrambles to house and feed several thousand immigrants, Pecos and MHA continue to partner as they serve those in great need.
Pecos continues to open its doors on Wednesday nights for prayer service from 6-8 p.m. and Sabbath after-church service as an opportunity to minister, not only physically but also spiritually. A big need still exists for men’s winter clothing, men’s snow boots, men’s tennis shoes, men’s work boots, women’s snow boots, women’s tennis shoes, male and female personal hygiene products and backpacks.
If you would like to support the drive or have any questions, please reach out to iglesiadepecos@gmail.com or chernandez@milehighacademy.org
Christina Hernández is a MHA Middle School teacher and education director/praise music director at the Denver Hispanic Pecos Church.
