Historical Macedonia Ame Church Camden

MACEDONIA AME CHURCH CAMDEN 261 Spruce Street Camden, NJ 08103 (856) 365-3840 Press Release

Contact: Rev. Mark K. Tyler, Pastor FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cell Phone: (484) 319-6690 September 9, 2005 Email: [email protected] PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: New Shoe donations will be accepted at the parking lot of the Payless Shoe Store in Camden, NJ (across from Pathmark grocery store) located at 2778 Mt. Ephraim Avenue on Saturday September 10 from 9am-6pm and on Sunday September 11 from 2pm-6pm.

A.M.E CHURCHES IN CAMDEN UNITE TO HELP KATRINA VICTIMS “GET BACK ON THEIR FEET”

THREE “AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (A.M.E)” CHURCHES IN CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, have come together to help victims of Hurricane Katrina literally get back on their feet. In addition to raising funds each Sunday this month during their worship services, the 3 congregations have banded together to hold a two-day shoe drive encouraging members and residents to come out and donate a NEW pair of shoes. All sizes and styles of shoes are needed: gym shoes, dress shoes, baby shoes and boots. The only requirement is that the shoes donated must be brand new. The shoe drive was inspired by the African American spiritual: “I got shoes, you Historical Macedonia AME Camden NEWS Page 2 got shoes, all God’s children got shoes. When I get to heaven gone put on my shoes and gone walk all over God’s heaven.” “Shoes in the bye-and-bye are fine and we pray that we all will have a pair of Heavenly shoes,” says Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler. “However, the AME Church does not believe that we can only have concern for life in the hereafter while neglecting the suffering of our neighbor in the here- and-now. A part of the AME Church mission statement instructs all our congregations to help ‘clothe the naked.’ To that end, the shoe drive is our small attempt to help restore the dignity to so many who have suffered so much in a short period of time.” The churches hope to collect enough shoes to fill a big box truck donated by the Teamsters Local 676. The idea has already garnered support from one designer shoe maker. Timberland Company has donated more than 300 pairs of new shoes. Mayor Gwendolyn Faison of Camden has contributed $500.00 from the Friends of Gwen Faison for fuel to drive the truck to the Gulf Coast region. Camden Iron & Metal has also donated $250 for fuel. The truck will drop off the shoes at the following three AME Church institutions: Pearl Street AME Church in Jackson, Mississippi, Allen AME Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Daniel Payne College in Birmingham, AL. All three of these locations have been set up as temporary shelters and distribution centers for displaced residents. The shoe drive is sponsored by Macedonia AME Church, Hosanna AME Church and Bethel AME Church – all in Camden, NJ. The truck will receive new shoe donations at the Payless Shoe Store Parking Lot located at 2778 Mt. Ephraim Avenue on Saturday September 10 from 9am-6pm and on Sunday September 11 from 2pm-6pm. You may also Historical Macedonia AME Camden NEWS Page 3 drop off new shoes at one of the AME Churches close to you. Call the church phone number (listed below) to arrange a drop off time. CHURCH DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

Historical Macedonia AME Church 261 Spruce Street Camden, NJ (856) 365-3840 Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, Pastor ------Hosanna AME Church 30th & Saunders Sts. Camden, NJ 08096 (856) 541-7710 Rev. Ernest Bell, Pastor ------Bethel AME Church 1841 Philip Street Camden, NJ 08104 (856) 541-9009 Rev. Ladell Mayers, Pastor ------