RUMFORD — For the more than 150 people gathered Aug. 22 at Three Fields, the 15th annual Culture of Compassion was a welcome relief.

The free community outreach event was organized by Praise Assembly of God and local volunteers.

Held every August, the primary focus of Culture of Compassion is offering back-to-school supplies and clothing, including back packs. Attendees also receive free groceries and a free meal at the event. There is a kids’ zone, which includes face painting and a bounce house, and a Hope tent, which includes messages from the pastor.

Maranda Turbide and partner Michael Stove brought their children, Lilly, 7, and Jeremiah, 9.

“Clothes are expensive,” said Turbide. “This takes a lot of burden off.

“We kind of just stopped in and realized that we could definitely use things. It was more than what we expected.”

Turbide said that with the price of gas, groceries and clothes, the help was appreciated.

“We can’t keep them in clothes. They grow too quick,” she said. “With the two of them, they went through a growth spurt recently; every six to eight months. And they don’t stop eating.”

Turbide said she found a brand new pair of shoes with the tags still on them for one of the kids. “They light right up and everything.”

“And I got a new Christmas dress,” added Lilly.

Turbide said they will definitely return to next year’s Culture of Compassion, “and definitely convince other people to come as well. This is so helpful, and not many people realize that these guys are out here doing something. And I love that.”

Justin Thacker, pastor of the Praise Assembly of God Church, 89 Congress St. in Rumford, said each year, event volunteers — which at 50, was about half the congregation — wear a different colored shirt, each with the event theme printed on the back.

“‘Be salty’ is our theme this year,” he said. “That’s Jesus, where he said, ‘Be salt and light, to be a preservative of compassion.’ He calls his followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world to show how they should bring goodness, truth and love to society.”

Thacker said the community’s need has grown over the years.

“So, we want to intensify our ministry,” he said. “Like this year, we have many clothes and donations, and some of the stuff we got was brand new. We try to keep up with what the needs are in the community.”

As far as the church, he said “a lot of these families will visit us. Our new youth directors we met here three years ago at the (Culture of Compassion). He and his wife have seven children now, and they’re amazing, but we met them here.”

Thacker said a lot of effort goes into putting the event together. “Our whole clothing closet is down here,” he said. “It took about four weeks to bag it, tag it and it’s all out today.”

Thacker said the goal of the annual event is simply to help people.

“I say this every year. We just want to be Jesus with skin on. We want to be real. We want to be authentic and help people. That’s what we want to do,” he said.

There’s little time to rest for volunteers now as the church begins prepping for its 24th annual Thanksgiving Giveaway, with food baskets delivered in the area on Saturday, Nov. 21.

“We’re looking to do a hundred families this year,” said Thacker. “Last year, we did 75.”

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