First Christian Church raises more than $1,200 to fund free admission to Hannibal Aquatic Center

August 1, 2023 | By Muddy River News

Pictured are members of the First Christian Church youth group. Front row from left are Alice Flood, Averie Juarez, Ethan Swanson, Henry Chaplin, Brooklyn Ellis and Macie Juarez; Back row from left are Marianna McMath, Stephanie Himmel, Karmen Swanson, Bailee Elzea, Rory Heaton, Konnor Kanz and Caden Brown. | Photo courtesy of Hannibal Parks and Recreation

HANNIBAL, Mo. — A local youth group is handing out free tickets for admission to the Hannibal Aquatic Center.

First Christian Church is providing free admission to the Hannibal Aquatic Center for 254 people after raising $1,270 in a special donation drive at the church. The FCC Caring and Sharing Committee spearheaded the drive. Member Hillary Chaplin said she was “overwhelmed by the generosity.”

She said some of the tickets recently were given out at the Hannibal Aquatic Center.

Chaplin said the Caring and Sharing Committee is the outreach division of First Christian Church.

“We work with our church family to be the FACE (forgiveness, acceptance, compassion and encouragement) of Jesus in our community,” she said in a press release.

Other outreach programs that have benefited from the efforts of the committee are the Hannibal Nutrition Center, Douglass Community Services, NECAC Low Income Heating/Energy Assistance program, the Hannibal Fire Department, Buddy Pack program, Coyote Hill Foster Care Services, Loaves and Fishes, Marion County Children’s Division Christmas and more.

“The committee has big plans for this year,” Chaplin said. “We will collect peanut butter for Buddy Packs in August and items for care packages for veterans in local nursing homes. This Christmas we will be continuing our Red Envelope project.”

Chaplin said the Red Envelope campaign “is probably one of the most anticipated yearly events at FCC. We put money in red envelopes that members of our congregation then gift to others in our community.”