Ponca City ministry benefits Kildare, local organizations

By Everett Brazil, III

The Newkirk Herald Journal

KILDARE — Ponca City Church’s Storehouse Ministry works tirelessly to benefit the community, from food pantries and meals to needed donations for regional entities. For the past six months, they have been able to make large, monthly donations to area groups with some more locally at Kildare Public School.

The organization was on campus Monday morning, Jan. 10, donating many packages of bottled water and hand sanitizer to the school.

Dale Henshaw is a leader within the ministry, and makes routine donations to the campus, all from supplies they receive themselves from corporate benefactors.

“We get supplies from name-brand retailers. They ship it to us, and we give it out free,” he said.

Supplies include battled water, but also hand soap and sanitizer, and even clothing. Donations are typically made monthly for each organization.

“I try to bring about 35 cases (of water) a month, sometimes other supplies,” he said. “We’re just trying to help the school.”

Henshaw said they give about $100,000 in donations monthly, and last month, passed the $600,000 mark.

Those donations support not just KPS, but also the Ponca City School District as well as schools and non-for-profits across north-central Oklahoma and south-central Kansas.

“We give supplies to to anyone that needs it, whatever problem they have,” Crenshaw said.

KPS is grateful for the donations, especially as they don’t have to use school funds.

“We appreciate Dale and the ministry for what they’ve given the school,” Superintendent Bruce Shelley said. “Without them, either we wouldn’t have it, or the supplies would have to come from other operating funds.”

As for the ministry, it is simply a loving gesture to reach out to those in the community who need help.

“We do all of this so we can help our community,” Crenshaw said. “Anything we can give them, that’ll save a few dollars in their budget.”