Ridge Church School donates to two hospitals and Teshie Orphanage

Pupils of the Ridge Church School in Accra on Thursday morning donated assorted items worth several thousands of Ghana Cedis to three institutions as part of the school’s annual Harvest and Outreach programme.

The beneficiary organisations are the Children’s Department of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge); the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and the Teshie Orphanage.

The items, donated by the pupils with the support of their parents, included groceries, toiletries, beverages, mineral water, biscuits, fruits, bread, foodstuff, canned foods, and bottles of cooking oil.

The Harvest and Outreach programme of the Ridge Church School is an annual event instituted right from the school’s onset to inculcate in its learners, the act of giving to the needy and the vulnerable. 

The harvest traditionally begins a few weeks earlier with offerings of money, which every learner brings to the school, with the climax being the gathering of gifts donated towards the event on the altar of the Ridge Church, where the event is hosted.

This year’s event, which was on the theme: “Giving willingly will glorify God" inspired by 2 Samuel 24:24, brought together learners, teachers, parents and the beneficiary organisations as they danced to gospel music from the school’s choir.

Let your sacrifice speak for you

In a brief sermon before distributing items to the beneficiary institutions, the school’s Chaplain, Reverend Laud Gyampoh, referenced a Bible passage where King David chose to make a significant sacrifice to God in gratitude amid national hardship.

Rev. Gyampoh cited the scripture: “But the king replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.”

He explained that although David faced severe consequences following a census he conducted, he did not let his nation's misfortune hinder his willingness to offer a meaningful sacrifice.

He explained that sometimes the true act of worship lies in making sacrifices for others, particularly for those in need.

“True sacrifice speaks from the heart,” he said, adding “Your sacrifice will speak for you. Your gifts will speak for you.”

He assured the students that their donations would carry this message as they reached the three beneficiary institutions.

Rev. Gyampoh also urged the recipients to honour the intention behind the donations, saying, “Allow the intended purpose to fulfill its calling.”

He encouraged the students to continue acts of kindness and service, praying, “May you always have abundance in your house.”

Good Morals 

The headmistress of the school, Mrs Nana Ama Acheampomaa Badasu, said the annual Harvest and Outreach Programme allows learners of the school to give to the needy and vulnerable in society.

She commended both the learners and their parents for supporting the exercise.

Similarly, Mrs Badasu commended the 2021 graduates of the school for also joining the annual harvest and outreach programme with their special donation.

The school’s Board Chair, Mrs. Vivian Campbell, commended the learners for their act of kindness towards the needy, saying that God will reward them abundantly.