There’s a new ministry at Brandywine Baptist Church in Chadds Ford that caters to women, children, and to those in need. The Brandywine Baptist Women’s and Children’s Ministry Center was the brainchild of Jo Anne Staunton.
Staunton, the new ministry coordinator, and her husband redid the old office at the church, turning the front part into a space for women to gather, and two of the back rooms into a play center for toddlers and a pantry with food, toiletries, and clothing for those in need. The space is open to the public from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and on the fourth Saturday of the month.
“This is open to the community, where they can come in, and they can get food, clothes, toiletries, and nonperishable items. And it’s all free. So, they can come in and, if they’re in need, we’ll give them a bag, and they can go in and take what they need,” Staunton said.
She acknowledged that the greater Chadds Ford area is an affluent area, but “We’re still in Delaware County and between Kennett [and Chester] I think it’s a good spot… the way the world is today, people are struggling.”
As an example, she said the ministry, which just opened, received a phone call from a woman the very next day who was in need.
“We’ve also received an overflow of donations; clothes, and you name it,” she said. “I have a nice little space right here, but my goal for this spring, we have a whole garage area downstairs that we’re going to remodel, and we’re going to have an entire space dedicated for people to drop off donations or for people to come in and pick up things. So, we’re going to enlarge the space.”
Staunton she started out with the idea “wanting to be a blessing to the women and children of the church, and also to the community. We’re off to a good start…But I just want to see where this goes.
She added that she realizes some people might feel uncomfortable or hesitant about the ministry being in a church.
“I don’t want people to feel pressured to be pulled into coming to the church. We’re not going to push that. I just want to meet the need.”
Staunton said there will be some upcoming quarterly events for the ladies in Heritage Hall at the church, but there will also be some smaller activities in the ministry. She calls that space “a secure, nurturing environment where women and children can gather, learn, and grow in their faith.”
Yet, while it is a ministry through the church, Staunton sees a larger picture.
“At Brandywine Baptist, we are making a real push to engage more with the community under our new leadership. We have already been coordinating with the Battlefield and local historical groups on a number of activities and initiatives, and we plan to be available whenever folks want to stop by, either for history or worship.”
