Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church to Give Food Baskets and Turkeys to More Than 2,000 Families at 'Christmas at the Ship' on Dec. 20, 2008

Chicago Alderman Pat Dowell, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter Among Attending Guests; Remarks By Pastor Charles Jenkins

CHICAGO, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ --

    WHAT:   Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church will host "Christmas at the
            Ship," a 13-year-old community outreach event that will provide
            Christmas food baskets and turkeys to more than 2,000 families.
            The baskets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve
            basis on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Every child in a family will
            be given two toys to ensure a happy Christmas.

            "Christmas is about giving," says Fellowship Missionary Baptist
            Pastor Charles Jenkins. "The entire season is about sacrifice,
            sharing and supporting those in need:  Christmas at the Ship
            is a symbolic way to celebrate the season, and it's incumbent
            that we reach out to find the less fortunate and touch their
            lives, if only in a small way. The objective is to lift people
            up -- we want them to feel great even though they may be going
            through a tough time give the state of the economy."

            The baskets are designed to feed a family of four or five.
            Families can also expect "random acts of kindness," where
            five (5) $100 AMEX gift cards will be given away.

            Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church was founded in September
            1950 by Rev. Dr. Clay Evans. The church currently has more
            than 7,800.

    WHERE:  Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
            4543 S. Princeton Ave.
            Chicago

    WHEN:   Saturday, Dec. 20
            9 a.m.-2 p.m.

    HOW:    To receive a basket, families must present a valid form of
            identification

    SPONSORS
    -- The Private Bank & Bruce Hague
    -- Bank of America
    -- Beaman Incorporated
    -- Harris Chicago Community Bank
    -- Northern Trust Bank
    -- The Serafin Group & Gideon Searle
    -- The Lurie Foundation & Michael Kurzman
    -- Breck and Nancy Hanson
    -- Cary L. Neiman
    -- The Bill Bass Foundation & James D. Jacobson
    -- United Airline & Sonya Johnson
    -- Strack & Van Til
    -- AT&T- Paul LA Schiazza, President
    -- Charitable Gift Foundation
    -- The Rise Group
    -- Millennium Properties
    -- The Rise Group, L.L.C.
    -- System Parking & T. Phillips& Sons
    -- Allstate Ins. and Mark J. Curl, Agent
    -- Roger A. Pillsbury
    -- Arthur J. and Jacqueline Smith
    -- John B. and Dianne L. Schwartz, Attorney

SOURCE Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church