P-38 Can Opener

This is a P-38 can opener.

Those who are former military may recognize these - they were included in canned field rations from 1942 - 1980s. I was in a church meeting today (1/23/21) for

Kyle United Methodist Church

. The church has had a blessings box food pantry on church property for the last few years (thank you to those who have and continue supported it) and, with the help of individuals and groups in town it has stayed fairly stocked. The need is still there and the canned goods inside tend to get picked up and refilled several times a week.

Anyhow... while talking to someone who was picking up food, Pastor

Stella Burkhalter

learned that, while it's not something most think about as essential because most of us have several of them lying around, there are some who are experiencing a change in housing, homelessness or have left a bad situation and don't have a can opener. It's not something you think about needing until you're looking at a can and don't know how to open it...

So.. P-38 Can Openers.

While looking for inexpensive items I could find in bulk I came across $50 for a pack of 100. They are also on Amazon for $169.96 for a pack of 500 (photo below).

Why else did these jump out at me?

It says "U.S. Shelby Co." on the piece.... Thats' because P-38s were produced at the Mallin Shelby Hardware Inc in Shelby, Ohio.

Shelby Ohio. That is where my Grandparents are from and where my father grew up. My grandfather is 95 years old and on February 3, 2020 my grandmother passed away in Shelby). It was just 13 days shy of what would have been their 75th Anniversary,

SO...to help me honor them... if anyone would like to pitch in with me to buy 100 or 500 P-38 Can openers with "U.S. Shelby Co" stamped on them that will be used to hand out to folks who are in need... Donate what you like to me at my PayPal.

FYI:

This post was adapted from a post I made on Facebook on January 23, 2021. I'm posting it February 19, 2021... but post-dating it so the story of this Journey is captured from the beginning. When Love Moves First, amazing things can happen.

#LoveMovesFirst

Prayer for Healing from Racism - 7/2020

Candles placed at Kyle United Methodist Church on 7/19/2020 as part of the prayer vigil

Prayer for Healing from Racism

By Tanya Livingston
(As read at the "Prayer Vigil for Healing from Racism and Disease" on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Kyle United Methodist Church in Kyle, Texas.)

Today we come together to pray for the end of racism and to mourn those who have died unnecessarily at the hands of others. 

Past and present we acknowledge these horrific acts of violence and we say their names:
All slavery throughout time. 
Emmitt Till.
Addie May Collins.
Cynthia Wesley.
Carole Robertson.
Carol Denise McNair.
Michael Brown.
Freddie Gray.
Eric Garner.
Philando Castile.
Tanisha Anderson.
Tamir Rice.
Breonna Taylor.
Botham Jean.
Ahmad Arbery.
Terrance Crucher.
Oscar Grant.
Atatiana Jefferson.
Trayvon Martin.
Laquan McDonald.
George Floyd.
And so many, many others. 

We will not sit around and wallow in our sorrow, though, because we have been called to action by our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are called to acknowledge the truth, educate ourselves, show up and stand up and speak out for those being oppressed. 

There are many verses in the Bible that remind us that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, to take care of each other. 

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

This could be standing up to someone’s racist language, calling out misinformation, or changing racist mascots. 

We all play a part. 

Amen.

------

Additional Photos from the vigil: