DONATIONS WILL KEEP BETHESDA FELLOWSHIP HERE IN OPERATION

The empty food shelves at Bethesda Fellowship, 14 N. Sprigg, are being replenished.

The fellowship, which has given away food and clothing to the needy for five years, has received enough donations to stay open and will not be forced to close as was reported on Sept. 19.

"We are going to fully restock," said the Rev. William Marshall, who runs the fellowship with his wife, Loretta. "We will be stocked up within a couple of weeks."

Marshall said the fellowship now has enough food to give away good-sized boxes of food.

"The money has been coming in real good," said Marshall. "We will be able to stay open."

He said money started coming in a few days after the situation was reported in the Southeast Missourian.

"I was surprised at the response," he said, "One man sent a check for $400."

"We have received about $900," Marshall said. "Most of the donations have come from Cape Girardeau."

Marshall said his church, the Chaffee Assembly of God, which has supported the fellowship, is going to increase its fund raising for Bethesda.

"We want to thank the people who gave," Marshall said. "The people who came in and the volunteers at Bethesda are just thrilled we are staying open."