C3 Love Tank Challenge raises more than $1600

Feb. 25, a group of Crossroads Community Church members visited filling stations in Stockbridge to hand out more than $1600 in gas gift cards, no strings attached. Photo credit Amy Erickson.

By Patrice Johnson

Feb. 25, a group of Crossroads Community Church members visited gas stations in Stockbridge to hand out more than $1600 in gas gift cards, no strings attached. Why? According to ministry coordinator Amy Erickson of Crossroads Community Church, the Sunday activity marked the culmination of a February-long fundraising effort.

“Throughout the month,” she said, “we challenged people in our church to participate in different random acts of kindness—we called this our C3 Love Tank Challenge.” Erickson reported that in filling the love tanks of others by doing random acts of kindness, the goal was “to raise money for gas cards to literally fill the gas tanks of people in our community.”

“It was a great afternoon of loving on people.” Erickson smiled. “It was incredible to touch the hearts and lives of people in our community.” Photo credit Amy Erickson.

“It was a great afternoon of loving on people.” Erickson smiled. “It was incredible to touch the hearts and lives of people in our community.” She added, “I mean—how often we pull up to the gas pump and fill our car, and for many that can be a burden on the wallet—so for people to pull up to the pump and have someone give them a gas gift card was just beautiful to watch.”

She noted that sometimes the simplest acts of kindness can exert the greatest impact. “We just want people to know they are loved, and God cares about them even in their most basic needs,” she said. “We had some people come to tears because they were so thankful. Our world needs more love and generosity right now, and we are so glad we got to be part of that today. This is not about our church or us in any way—but hopefully an opportunity to inspire others to spread love even in the smallest ways.”