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The Luverne Chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association gave away hundreds of pizzas Saturday in the parking lot of Living Rock Church on East Main Street in Luverne.
About a dozen volunteers dressed in warm boots and multiple layers against the sub-zero wind chills hand pizzas through car windows of the drive-through event.
“It was cold, but we have no regrets,” said club member JoAnn Vanderburg.
“It was an opportunity to give back to the community and show the love of Jesus and offer prayers of hope with anyone who wanted to pray with us.”
She said many who were receptive to praying had concerns about health issues and employment problems related to the pandemic.
The local CMA chapter typically takes orders to raise funds for its annual “Run for the Son” ministry, but this year Vanderburg said the pandemic created a new way to minister.
“I’d been praying about it … I didn’t know if we should ask for donations for orders this year,” Vanderburg said.
“Then one of our members said he’d been abundantly blessed this year and offered $2,000 to buy the pizzas to give away.”
Other club members chipped in with their own donations toward Saturday’s event that drew 60 vehicles.
“We were also happy to hear some of them say they know of someone they will be sharing the pizzas with,” Vanderburg said.
Left-over pizzas were later delivered to the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne, Mary Jane Brown Home and to The Cottage where one of the CMA members, Keith Lemke, recently passed away under hospice care.
For more information about CMA and its mission, president Steve Steensma can be reached at 507-920-8659.