When Patrick Buckner was serving at a church in New Jersey, he started a music evangelism outreach he called Unashamed Ministries. The ministry included music he had written himself and combined in a CD project called "Just Be His." "I love journaling and writing down thoughts and composing music," said Patrick.
By 2020, Patrick was an associate pastor at the nondenominational Colerain Church, located at 1923 Noble Road, Kirkwood. That is when he met Leanne Quartuccio, originally of New Holland. Patrick and Leanne married in August of 2021, but the February prior to that, they launched Unashamed Ministries together as an outreach, beginning with the collection and delivery of Valentine's Day cards to residents of the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community (QPRC).
Now living in Lititz, the couple has continued with regular outreaches. "We had a vision to go out and be the hands and feet of Jesus to just help people," explained Leanne. "We choose a different outreach every month in the local community."
Following the Valentine's Day effort, the couple collected toys for the children's ward of Lancaster General Hospital. The toys were available to children in the hospital on Easter morning in 2021. The couple heard from a mother whose daughter was admitted the night before. "(The little girl) was worried that the Easter Bunny wasn't going to find her," said Leanne.
"(The mother) messaged us and said her daughter woke up with an Easter gift and that meant the world to her," added Patrick.
In April 2021, the ministry collected essential items for Water Street Mission, and in May it created gift bags to help encourage women who are clients of Clare House. Over the summer, care packages were prepared for new patients of the WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center, and in October, art supplies were collected for women being served by North Star Initiative. In addition, local artist Paris Llanso visited and taught an art class.
Prior to Christmas 2021, the Buckners offered donors an opportunity to purchase bags of Christmas items, including devotionals and Patrick's CD. The donors picked up the bags at an event held at Colerain Church. The gathering included a reception with food, games, and Christmas music. "We opened it up to the whole community," said Patrick. The donors filled out invitations to include with the bags that asked the recipient to attend church with them.
Since the arrival of 2022, the couple has collected hats, gloves, and scarves for those in need in the city of Lancaster and repeated the Valentine's Day card effort for QPRC, but added Friendship Community to the recipients. The Buckers are also organizing an Easter toy drive for children at Penn State Hershey Medical Center through Thursday, March 31.
"We are hoping to expand (the ministry)," said Leanne. "I want to always do more to reach out and proclaim the good news."
Patrick agreed. "We are bringing Jesus to the world," he said.
More information about the ministry may be found at http://www.unashamedministriespa.com. Readers who have questions or who would like information about dropping off donations for the toy drive may email unashamedministriespa@gmail.com or call 717-847-6447 or 856-803-3517.
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