Little did I know that when I picked up The Columbia Star in early May at Agapé at Kathwood when visiting Mom, that I would get involved with helping Turning Pages continue to operate for at least another year.

Thanks go to Julia Hook Rogers for bringing this need to the attention of the community. I’d like to tell you about one follow–up that helped make a difference in the Turning Pages story.

Before I got a chance to read the Turning Pages article, our Sunday school class at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was in a discussion about being more mission–

oriented in the community. After reading the article about Turning Pages in The

Columbia Star, I wrote an email that week to the class about the problems Turning Pages was having. I got replies that we had to do something.

After a hastily called meeting, that “something” was a letter writing campaign to about 200 area churches from our pastor, Torrie Osgood, and I don’t know how many others from individuals to their friends asking for prayer and financial support for Turning Pages. Please know that we didn’t raise the lion’s share of the money from this effort—it may have been $4,000 to $5,000, but we felt that we helped in others ways like getting the issue before a number of people on a personal basis.

As a result of Turning Pages is meeting its goal. Debbie Yoho and the church are planning a Thanksgiving Worship and Celebration Luncheon on August 8. During worship we’ll recognize the efforts of the community to support Turning Pages. The luncheon after worship happens to coincide with our annual birthday celebration when there will be at least one cake for each month of the year, and we simply celebrate and gorge on cakes from any month we would like. Debbie is inviting the Turning Pages staff and learners and donors to join us.

I’d like for you, my wonderful friends, to join us and any other members of the community. It would be great to have you at worship at 11 a.m., but you can just enjoy a typical (should I say outstanding) church covered dish luncheon at about 12:15 p.m. It should be a wonderful day.

We’re not planning to stop here. In addition to other support for Turning Pages, the congregation is planning a giant community–wide garage sale in October. There will be more on that later.

One other thing you need to know is that I simply introduced the idea and used my old RCEA organization skills to get things moving. The interest and work of many in our small congregation have carried the ball and enthusiastically promoted the effort to assist Turning Pages. It is truly a cross–section of the church.

I’ll have to offer my thanks to you again for promoting community issues in the Star. And I hope you are pleased that your journalism has positive repercussions, not just in this case, but others, across the our community.

Jim Hockman, Columbia