Bethany Center

Our Annual Bethany Center Chicken Dinner Fundraiser is just around the corner, and we'd love your support!

Tickets are $12 each and are pre-sale only. All orders must be received by Thursday, July 30.

Tickets may be purchased at Bethany Center, Tuesday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or by texting CHICKEN to 44-321 to order online, or clicking this link: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/bethany-center/chicken-dinner-fundraiser

The dinner will be held on Sunday, August 9, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bethany Center, 339 South Street, Piqua. Each meal includes a half BBQ chicken, baked beans, applesauce, a roll with butter, and dessert. Meals are carry-out only.

If you would like to support Bethany Center but don't want a dinner, we would be grateful for a one-time gift or an ongoing monthly donation. If donating online without purchasing a dinner, simply enter "NO TICKET" in the comments.

Please see the attached flyer for complete details. Thank you for helping make this year's fundraiser a success!

We'd like to share a testimonial from one of our guests.

This is part of a message they sent to one of our volunteers. Your support helps make stories like this possible.

Many hands. One purpose. Serving our neighbors with love.

The Man in the Blue Hat

As we continue celebrating Bethany Center's 25th anniversary year, we want to take a moment to recognize the countless individuals who have supported this outreach over the years.

In the early days, our founder, Wilma Earls, kept a daily journal. An entry might read something like:

"Went to chapel. Arrived at the center at 9:00 a.m. Turned off the alarm. "So and so" was getting the coffee ready. Set out the casseroles. A man in a blue hat dropped off a bag of groceries. A lady in a silver van donated some clothing."

If you've spent any time around Bethany Center, you know exactly what that means. Someone would ask, "Who dropped this off?" and the answer would be, "A man in a blue hat," or "A lady in a silver van."

Those simple descriptions represent thousands of people over the last 25 years.

Recently, we've been recognizing our local churches, community partners, and corporate sponsors. Their support is vital, and we are grateful for each one. But today we want to acknowledge the individuals who are too numerous to name.

The people who show up with a bag of groceries. The family that organizes a food drive. The person who drops off clothing they no longer need. The donor who sends $20 to help a neighbor. The volunteer who spends a morning sorting clothing, serving a meal, stocking shelves, or helping with a project. The person who sees a need and simply responds.

These individuals are woven into the story of Bethany Center. They are part of what has made 25 years of outreach possible. Their kindness, generosity, and willingness to help—often in small ways that add up over time—have touched thousands of lives.

For 25 years, people like the man in the blue hat and the lady in the silver van have helped our neighbors know they are loved.

Thank you for your tremendous support.

Many Hands. One Purpose. Serving our neighbors with love.

As we continue celebrating our 25th anniversary year, we want to take a moment to thank Saint Paul's Church for more than 25 years of partnership and support.

In fact, our story goes back even further.

Before Bethany Center opened its doors in 2001, Wilma Earls was serving our neighbors through Saint Mary's Soup Kitchen at Saint Paul's Church. The first meal was served in November 1998. Around 45 people came that day for meatloaf.

Wilma often told the story of making the meatloaf at home, waking up in the middle of the night and realizing she had forgotten an ingredient. She got up, remixed everything, and carried on. It was a simple act of love that reflected the spirit of what was beginning.

Since those early days, Saint Paul's Church has been with us every step of the way. Through monthly volunteer service, donations, support of our annual chicken dinner, financial gifts, and countless acts of kindness, they have helped make our work possible.

For nearly two centuries, Saint Paul's has been part of the story of Piqua, serving as a steady presence in our community and caring for its neighbors. We are grateful that they continue to be part of the story today.

Thank you, Saint Paul's Church, for your faithfulness, generosity, and partnership.

Many Hands. One Purpose.
Serving Our Neighbors with Love.