There are several important traditions in the Ohio Valley for the holiday season. Among them are the Thanksgiving and Christmas giveaways sponsored each year by Bethlehem Apostolic Temple. Those events help those in need have joyous holiday seasons by receiving food, clothing and toys free of cost.

Bishop Darrell Cummings, lead pastor of the church, has been the leading force behind those giveaways every year. This year will be no different. What could be different, he said this week, is how many people could be in need due to the federal government shutdown and the pause in SNAP benefits.

“We’re in the midst of economic challenges, so there may be more people who need help than normally do,” he said. “I know that during the pandemic, one Thanksgiving, we helped more than 1,000 people be

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