Texas Ward Rallies to Serve Sister Ward in Ghana
Contributed By Emily Treadway, Church News contributor
Margaret and Joseph Appiah, with other members of the Stony Point Ward in the Round Rock Texas East Stake, collected clothes, school and art supplies, and toys to be sent to a sister ward in Ghana.
Article Highlights
- Seven boxes of toys, clothes, and books were sent to the Kwabenya Ward in Ghana, Africa.
- Youth held a silent auction to cover the shipping charges.
- Extra donations were given to needy families within the ward and community.
“I knew if we all pulled together many of the needs of the Ghana ward could be met.” —Joseph Appiah, second counselor in the Round Rock Texas East Stake presidency
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The Stony Point Ward in the Round Rock Texas East Stake banded together to serve a sister ward in Ghana, Africa. President Joseph Appiah, second counselor in the Round Rock Texas East Stake presidency, and his wife, Margaret, both hail from Ghana, and Margaret’s parents attend the Kwabenya Ward.
On their last visit to Africa the Appiahs saw the needs of many Church members in the Kwabenya Ward. Joseph and Margaret took with them two boxes of toys their children had outgrown to donate to the ward’s nursery because that church had none.
Upon returning to the States the idea remained in Joseph Appiah’s head that more could be done. “I knew if we all pulled together many of the needs of the Ghana ward could be met.”
The idea was introduced to the Stony Point bishop, Jeff Heaps, who wholeheartedly approved the plan as a ward service project. Church members were asked to bring in gently used clothes, shoes, toys, and children’s books to send to Ghana. They were also asked to donate art supplies.
The Stony Point youth held a silent auction to raise the necessary money to pay the shipping charges. Items auctioned were babysitting services, lawn care services, a dinner, or a dessert to be delivered to a home.
The Stony Point members met one Saturday to gather items to send to the Kwabenya Ward. The response was overwhelming. Church members cleaned toys and shoes before they were packed into boxes. Clothes were sorted, folded, and packed accordingly. Seven large boxes were sent to Ghana, and all shipping charges were covered by the money earned from the Stony Point youths’ silent auction.
Items remained, however, and were distributed among families in need within the Stony Point Ward as well as a local nonprofit agency that aids those in need in the Round Rock area. Stony Point Relief Society president Kerilyn Jensen says, “This was a project that just kept giving and giving.”
The Stony Point Ward gathered many donations and held a silent auction to raise funds to cover all the shipping to Africa. Photo by Emily Heaps.
