Church members remember, announce food bank's future location

BREWSTER - Despite the looming closure of a nearly century-old church, spirits were high among some of the church's remaining members at the yard sale fundraiser last month.

Tucked back in the shade next to the circa-1912 stone building, community members and other passersby stopped to browse books, small household appliances, home décor, clothes, toys, Christmas ornaments and more. The purchases and donations made July 22 will help pay for the Brewster Food Bank's move from the church's basement to a new home.

Congregation members Bonnie Colpitts, Marye Cooper and Pat Tift, along with food bank volunteer Lucy Baker, happily watched shoppers haul away a treadmill, television, stereo system and other large items.

Those shoppers also expressed condolences to the congregation, which, at seven remaining members, is no longer able to keep the church running.

"We're sorry that it's closing," said Colpitts, who joined the church in the late 1980s. "It was inevitable with the shrinking and aging population. People age, and people move away."

"We've done well to keep it going this long, and keep it maintained so well," said Cooper, a member since the early 1950s. She added that the last time St. James saw a swell in membership was during construction of the Chief Joseph Dam in nearby Bridgeport, which began in 1949. During more fruitful times, the church provided free community concerts and a space for Alcoholics Anonymous to meet, Cooper said.

The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane plans to sell the building, and the congregation hopes it will continue to be a part of the community's history.

"The building is a treasure, it's no doubt," Colpitts said.

The food bank, meanwhile, has no plans of slowing down. In an e-mail sent Sunday, food bank operator Mike Lundstrom verified that the new location will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 214 S. 5th St. Colpitts said the year-round hours of operation will stay the same at its new location - from 9 to 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. In fact, the board of directors hopes to use future fundraisers and grants to add a walk-in freezer.

"This has been our outreach for over 35 years for the Episcopal Church," Colpitts said. "I'm glad it's continuing on."