Portage Seventh-day Adventist Church members recently presented Portage Food Pantry representative Bill Nelms with a check for $650. For the past three years the Portage Seventh-day Adventist Church has been holding a free rummage and giving the donated profits to the pantry.

A tent is set up on the front lawn where church and local community members donate rummage sale items. During Labor Day weekend all of the donated items are free for anyone to take. Those who are willing can leave a donation. Following the rummage sale all of the money donations are given to the local food pantry and any remaining items are donated to the Lighthouse. Portage resident Kathy Paddack was also thanked for her generous donation of rummage items.

“We had some people looking for items for families who had lost everything in the floods in our area this summer, said Helen Summerton, member of the Portage church. “Also, we had quite a few women who were brought over from the women’s home to get personal items, plus things for the home. Some people who have come other years to pick out things for themselves brought some things to share this year when they came to get some new things for themselves.”

Portage members agreed this was a great way to get to know people in the community, help those in need, and reach people for Jesus!