Anchored Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to people in need through a variety of programs including its mobile clothing closet, has welcomed Russ Williams as its new interim executive director. Williams has been passed the torch of leadership from co-founder and former executive director Erika Kanter, who, along with her husband, Ian, has stepped down from the ministry.

Williams, a resident of Morgantown, was a longtime volunteer for Anchored Ministries before being named to the new position. He is being supported in his new role by his wife, Frances, and their three children, who will all be actively involved in the ministry.

"I attend MCC (Moving Communities to Christ Church) and there are a lot of people there that volunteer with Anchored. That's how I connected with Ian," said Williams, explaining how he got involved in the ministry. "My skill sets are on the technology side of the house, so I helped with their website and web presence and helped facilitate the sign-ups and the workflow they were utilizing for the different events like the Christmas program and back-to-school (giveaway). I was trying to make their processes more efficient and ultimately help more people in the community."

Williams emphasized that the ministry will continue with its current programs under his leadership. "We are not looking at a huge change because the programs that are put in place are solid programs that benefit the community," he noted.

Among the ministry's programs are its mobile clothing closet, which offers new and gently used clothing, shoes and accessories. The closet stops regularly at New Holland Church of Nazarene, CrossNet Ministries in New Holland and the Honey Brook Food Pantry.

Anchored Ministries also offers a community roadside stand at its headquarters in Elverson, which is open on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Inside the shed, visitors can find free Wawa breakfast sandwiches, books, toiletries and nonperishable food items from the ministry's emergency food pantry.

The ministry recently completed its annual back-to-school program, which offered new backpacks and school supplies to students in the Twin Valley School District (TVSD). The ministry is currently gearing up for its Christmas program, which asks community members to sponsor a child in the TVSD, providing gifts on the student's wish list.

"At our back-to-school event, we gave out 300 backpacks to kids between kindergarten and 12th grade, and we handed out 1,600 pieces of clothing," Williams reported. "Last year for the Christmas program, we had 400 kids we sponsored and got their entire Christmas wish list shopped for. We could not do that without the help of the community."

In fact, Williams pointed out, all Anchored Ministries charitable programs are supported by the community. "As a nonprofit, there is no source of revenue or income except through the generosity of the people willing to give," he said. "It speaks volumes of the community."

Williams also credits the volunteers who donate their time to the ministry, as well as part-time staff members Meredith Rumer and Melissa Werner. "There is a fantastic team that works inside the Anchored building - Meredith and Melissa," he stated. "They are responsible for the programs' execution both from the clothing closet side and the outreach programs. They are really doing the yeomen's work of processing and working with volunteers to sort the clothing and get the trailers loaded and organizing the collection and distribution of supplies. They are the real heroes behind Anchored Ministries."

The ministry is always in need of donations and additional volunteers. "Financial donations are always appreciated and are used directly to help serve both the programs and the different outreaches that we do," said Williams. "Volunteers are needed at events to help with set up and teardown and to build relationships with people during events."

Williams added that all services and goods offered by Anchored Ministries will always be offered free of charge. "There is not a single program or event that we charge for. Everything is really dependent on the local community," said Williams. "Our overall goal is to show the love of Christ to everyone we encounter, and we are able to that because so many people care about others."

Anchored Ministries is located at 40 S. Chestnut St., Elverson. For more information, including the mobile clothing closet schedule, visit http://www.anchoredministries.org or http://www.facebook.com/AnchoredMinistriesPA. Those with questions may email Williams at russ@anchoredministries.org.