BARRELS OF LOVE has been a mission initiative of Asbury in Mission (AIM) of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Allentown, PA since 2005. AIM is dedicated to collecting and shipping clothing, medical supplies, and life necessities to the people of war-torn Liberia
After 20 plus years, civil war in Liberia finally ended in the early 2000s and virtually everything was destroyed. Survivors are still desperately trying to get back on their feet. Unemployment is a staggering 87%. (See Video on Website about the effects of the civil war and Dr. Hena’s efforts to build a medical clinic.)
As a result of the war, Liberians needed clothing, dishes, medical supplies, transportation, tools – everything. Anything available in Liberia to purchase is extremely expensive and products are usually sold through the black market.
Delivery of Clothing, Medical Equipment and Household Items
We, in the US, have an abundance to share with the people of Liberia, so Asbury found trustworthy contacts who personally deliver the goods. God has made it so easy for Asbury and its partner churches to impact lives in Kakata and in its surrounding communities!
Collection of Donations
Every year In July, and then in November, Barrels of Love are packed and shipped to Liberia. After the United Methodist Women’s (UMW) Bazaar, extra clothing, household items, etc, are donated for the barrels, as well as a monetary donation toward shipping costs. Other church members also drop off items to be packed into the barrels or they contribute toward shipping, which is the cost of a used barrel plus $200 per barrel.
The Barrels of Love are then packed by volunteers and transported by truck to a port where the barrels are placed in shipping containers to be sent to Dr. Hena at the Waterfield Primary Health Care Center (WPHCC) and to other mission partners in Liberia.
On July 13th, Asbury sent 22 Barrels of Love that included over 100 boxes of medical supplies from Through These Hands, as well as 21 boxes of textbooks from Luis A. Ramos Elementary School in Allentown, PA.
Handmade dresses for little girls, shirts and rain gear for Community Healthcare Workers, and automotive parts for the HWHL van were also sent, as well as supplies for Dr. Hena, and educational videos and Bibles for the staff.
Flip-flops were sent from St. Andrews UMC in Milton, PA and other supplies were donated by the First UMC of Eatonton, GA.
On November 2019, Asbury sent additional Barrels of Love to WPHCC that included 10 barrels and 83 boxes of medical supplies from Through These Hands. The First UMC of Eatonton, GA also contributed to the items shipped.
If there is any church or organization reading this post who is interested in partnering with Asbury UMC, or who wants information to set up your own Barrels, please contact Dick McCreight through our contact page. This way, Asbury can inform you as to what Dr. Hena needs and how and from where the Barrels are shipped.
By: Dick McCreight, HWHL Board Director
Barrels of Love Photos on Website contributed by Dick McCreight, Bluestem Light Photography, LLC; local Liberian photos and Altar cloth in picture on Home page from Dr. Hena; dresses made by Joanne Ida, sister of Asbury UMC member.
