Wrapping vets in love
ORANGE PARK – Loice Tucker, a member of the Quilting Ministry at First Baptist Church if Middleburg, has been donating quilts to Haven Hospice for approximately six months. While the Quilting Ministry creates many quilts with different colors and patterns, Loice creates quilts that are all red, white and blue. “I have a lot of family members who are retired military, so it means a lot to me to create red, white and blue quilts to share with veterans,” she said. The quilts Loice creates for Haven are given to veterans during veteran pinning ceremonies. “I really enjoy being a part of the Quilting Ministry at FBM. Quilting is how we take care of people and show our love. It is how I show my love for the military and veterans.”

Church group conducts debris cleanups
ORANGE PARK – In response to the overwhelming need for assistance after Hurricane Irma, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had more than 250 “Mormon Helping Hands” volunteers from Duval, Union, Columbia and Clay counties pitch in. This includes those from the Fleming Island, Green Cove Springs, Middleburg, Oakleaf, Orange Park, Timuquana, Normandy, and Whitehouse congregations in the local area. The volunteers have helped cut downed trees and remove sheetrock and debris from flooded homes, as well as provided supplies and emergency food to those in need. Anyone still in need of help should call the Crisis Cleanup line at 1-800-451-1954.