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Bills vs. Ravens: Churches unite for playoff food drive challenge

Submitted

Fri, Jan 17th 2025 09:50 am

Community Missions Press Release

As Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens fans prepare for their playoff showdown, churches in both cities are channeling their team spirit into a competition that will benefit local food assistance organizations.

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier is proud to be a beneficiary of the churches in Niagara Falls participating in the food drive.

This spirited competition builds on a tradition started during the 2024 AFC Championship, when Kansas City churches challenged Baltimore's Christian Temple Church (Disciples of Christ) and other churches to a food drive competition. Now, with the Ravens heading to Buffalo, Baltimore's churches are extending the tradition northward.

"Last year's challenge with Kansas City created incredible buzz and successfully restocked local food pantry shelves after the holidays," said the Rev. Dr. John Callaway, co-pastor of Christian Temple Church in Catonsville, Maryland. "Now that our mighty Ravens will be flocking together to head up to the cold of Buffalo, we would like to issue the same challenge to our Bills friends."

Callaway reached out to several Western New York church leaders, including the Rev. Dr. Ray Allen at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Niagara Falls, and the Rev. Jan Mahle, pastor of the East Aurora Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Revs. Allen and Mahle have been recruiting the Bills’ team of churches. Currently participating in Niagara Falls are Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church, Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, and True Bethel Baptist Church. In the Buffalo area, Grove Street Christian Church, Cleveland Heights Christian Church, and Payne Avenue Christian Church have joined in.

Meanwhile, back on the Baltimore side, Christian Temple Church is joined by Grace AME Church in Catonsville.

Participating churches in both cities will collect food items through Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 20. As part of the MLK Day of Service, the donated items will be counted at each church, with final tallies due by noon Jan. 21. The winning city will be announced the after the count.

“What is so wonderful about this kind of event, is that it brings us together from afar for the common purpose of helping our neighbors in need everywhere … and showing that the Bills are the best, of course,” said the Rev. Mark Breese of Community Missions.

Do you think your congregation can help push Western New York to victory? Churches interested in joining the challenge can contact Callaway at [email protected] or Mahle at [email protected]. Baltimore-area churches are likewise encouraged to contact Callaway to join their team's effort.

Currently, the Niagara Falls donation locations and times are:

Bethany Missionary Baptist Church (2002 Forest Ave., Niagara Falls)

√ Saturday, Jan 18: noon-3 p.m.

√ Sunday, Jan 19: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

√ Monday, Jan 20: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church (166 59th St., Niagara Falls)

√ Friday, Jan 17: 9 a.m.-noon

√ Sunday, Jan 19: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (additional donations accepted via church office entrance drop box)

Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church (1750 Tennessee Ave., Niagara Falls)

√ Saturday, Jan 18: noon-2 p.m.

√ Sunday, Jan 19: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

True Bethel Baptist Church (2820 Michigan Ave., Niagara Falls)

√ Contact church directly for donation times

For details on supporting this initiative, contact a local participating church or email [email protected]. For more information, contact Breese at 716-285-3403, ext. 2259, or [email protected].

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