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Flour Power
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Retirement is a time to finally sleep in and slow down. At least that’s what you’re supposed to do. Apparently, no one has explained that to retired mail carrier Ray Thompson. As Kim Riemland reports, neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow – nor old age – seems to stop a man who is driven by faith. |
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Flour Power – Story:
It’s not so unusual for a retired man and his wife to stop at a doughnut shop in the morning.
Nat Sound: “We’ve got 22 dozen for you; 22 dozen, all right.”
But United Methodists Ray and Ruth Thompson get more than a few.
This is their ministry going all around town, collecting cart after cart of day-old baked goods from the stores that no longer need them … and getting them to the people who do.
Jerry Hill, Christian Outreach Center: “Just think about it. You’re down and out and hungry and you need some groceries. There’s a place you can go and you leave with a three-layer cake and some fresh rolls. That’s going to make a big difference.”
Ray and Ruth stock the shelves of food banks – swing by senior centers and soup kitchens. Partway through their route, they split up to make more deliveries and better time. Ray is known around here for his lead foot and heart of gold.
Dora Atlas, Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen: “I don’t know what we would do without him.”
And although he’s continually in a hurry, Ray always has time for people like Aerie … and all the shut-ins to whom he brings food.
Nat Sound – Ray and Aerie praying together: “And we just thank you for the fellowship we have enjoyed here this morning, In Jesus’ name, we are so grateful. Amen. Amen!”
The Thompsons do this seven days a week.
Ray: “This is a joy, a blessing. This is God’s work. I have a driving passion to serve God in this matter.”
With 178,000 miles on the truck, and 77 years on the body, Ray hasn’t even thought about slowing down. His driving force keeps him moving on down the road.
Ray: “This is just a joy to be doing this.”
In Asheboro, N.C., I’m Kim Riemland reporting.
Flour Power – Tag:
Making deliveries comes naturally to Ray, after all those years at the post office. And about that “need for speed” – that seems to be in his blood, too: He was an amateur racecar driver in his younger days.