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photo by: Gage Vota

Volunteer Kelli Elmore assists with food distribution at the North Wheeling Community Dream Center Saturday morning during Bethlehem Apostolic TempleÀÏ˾»úÖ±²¥™s annual Christmas giveaway. In addition to all the fixings for a holiday meal, those who lined up received clothing, toys, bicycles and more.

WHEELING — The holidays are underway and one area church has united the community to help those in need.

Bethlehem Apostolic Temple held its annual Christmas giveaway at the North Wheeling Dream Center Saturday, with hundreds braving temperatures that dropped into the teens.

Bishop Darrell Cummings, lead pastor of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple, said that people began lining up in the early morning with one attendee saying that they arrived to wait in line at 4 a.m.

The event kicked off at 10 a.m., but right before the doors opened, Cummings held a brief meeting with all of the local volunteers to instruct them on how to distribute the gifts.

“We want to treat everybody with kindness,” Cummings said.

He then led the volunteers in a prayer before opening the doors.

Once the doors opened, several Wheeling Police officers and firefighters led the children through a wide assortment of gifts, while the adults went down an assembly line of giving.

The line gave a plethora of food, clothing and hygiene products. Hams, turkey and chicken were available, as well as vegetables, fruits, pies and desserts. Those were distributed to the attendees while the children frolicked through the Dream Center picking up their Christmas gifts.

Although countless toys were available, the main attraction was children’s bicycles, Cummings said that there were roughly 100 bikes available for the children.

“We have about 100 bicycles, that’s probably a record. We’ve had used bicycles before but this time they’re all brand new,” Cummings said. “We’re trying to do everything we can to send people home with a smile.”

He then said that another new addition to this year’s giveaway is the building where the giveaway took place now has heat.

“We didn’t have heat for a number of years,” he said. “It doesn’t feel cold in here, but it’s definitely cold outside.”

Saturday morning was a bit of a winter wonderland, with families layered up, Cummings and his volunteers provided free hot cocoa to them as they waited for the doors to open.

“Some came through an I-70 snowstorm to make it here,” Cummings said.

He added that although he spearheaded the event he could not have done it without the community coming together.

“We’re not here by ourselves and we’re very grateful for those who are here,” he said.

Cummings added that, this year, the event gave away many more personal hygiene items than previous years due to the need for them in the community. He had heard it was a need, so he wanted to make sure the giveaway made personal hygiene items more readily available to the community.

“I get the privilege of talking to you but I’m not the one doing everything. I don’t play every instrument, there’s a lot of band players behind us that make this happen,” Cummings said. “I believe this is a community event. Although we lead it, it’s the community that makes this happen.”

Ohio Valley resident and giveaway volunteer Kelli Elmore said she volunteers yearly at the event. She said the first reason she keeps coming back every year to donate her time during the event is because of her faith in God. The second reason, she said, is because she needs assistance as well.

“Sometimes I need this line too, it’s not all hunky dory,” Elmore said. “So I love to volunteer, because the same thing I volunteer to is the same thing I’m in need of some time.”

Another volunteer, Michael Joseph, said he spent the morning volunteering to assist his mother Vicky Joseph, who is a big proponent of volunteering and giving back to the community. Michael now lives in Austin,Texas, but is in town for the holiday.

He said that every time he comes to town, he loves to volunteer with his mother.

“My mom is really big into the community and volunteering with the church,” Joseph said.

“I’m in Austin, Texas, for school,but every time I’m in town, I love to volunteer with her and spend time with her as well.”