They came from throughout Southeast Missouri with their church vans, trailers, trucks and cars all loaded with resources to help those in need.

The annual Festival of Sharing ecumenical in-gathering day was held Saturday at the Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter. Groups from at least eight different denominations from throughout Southeast Missouri all gathered together bringing resources and helping to pack food that was distributed to agencies in the region. A scan of the FUMC parking lot found fans and trucks from Sikeston, Bloomfield, Poplar Bluff, Perryville, Caruthersville and other communities.

Folks were packing 2-pound bags of rice, bags of beans, and gathering donations collected and crafted at area churches. Items that have collected also included kits, including baby bundles, dental kits, family food boxes, paper product kits, personal hygiene kits and paper product kit and school kits for youngsters.

Dexter serves as a regional satellite location in the statewide Festival of Sharing, as all denominations of faith come together in a common effort to help those in need. Agencies throughout the area benefit from the work of hundreds of people in churches in Southeast Missouri include

Photo Above: Kendra Stevenson of Dexter was just one of the dozens of volunteers from throughout Southeast Missouri who helped collect, bag and pack donations of food and other items for the Festival of Sharing on Saturday. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)