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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

From left: Mark McLean, Pastor David Coffman, Gary Cabbage and Bill Brackett deliver cookies as part of a daylong missions emphasis recently conducted by St. John’s Lutheran Church. Members and friends participated in 16 community projects that assisted needy individuals throughout Oconee County.

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Special to the Daily Journal/Messenger

Ilia Schumacher mows a lawn as part of Project Inasmuch.

WALHALLA — St. John’s Lutheran Church recently spent a Saturday canvassing Oconee County as members and friends took part in 16 community projects designed to offer a helping hand to needy individuals.

Pastor David Coffman said the mission effort, called “Project Inasmuch” that was derived from Matthew 25:40, offered comfort, visitation, food and drink in conjunction with participation from Eternal Shepherd Lutheran Church and Thrivent for Lutherans’ Join Hands Day.

“We wanted to help as many people as possible right here in our community,” Pastor Coffman said. “Hopefully, we have shown how we take Jesus’ words to heart by helping those less fortunate.”

During the day, volunteers that included Duke Energy employees, collected food for the Golden Corner Food Bank, visited prisoners in the Oconee County Detention Center and constructed and installed wheelchair ramps for the disabled. Volunteers also performed yard work for several elderly families in Seneca and served lunch to firemen and police officers in Seneca, Walhalla and Westminster.

In addition, volunteers planted flowers and filled bird feeders at the Hospice House, fed quarters into washers and dryers for needy patrons at Laundromats and performed maintenance on the Foothills Trail in northern Oconee County. Some even taught children from Tamassee DAR School and the Collins Children’s Home how to knit and crochet, while animal lovers walked dogs, played with cats, cleaned cages and delivered bags of food to Fox Nest Veterinary Hospital’s Animal Rescue Program.

Volunteers from St. John’s also provided support for cyclists participating in Issaqueena’s Last Ride cycling event by providing them with nutritious food throughout the day.

Joan Lewis, coordinator of Project Inasmuch, was pleased with what she saw in the way of the daylong effort of community service projects.

“This was an awesome day of ministry for St. John’s,” Lewis said.