'I love bringing people together': Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP meets for prayer luncheon

The last time the Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP held an event, it was a prayer breakfast at the former Ramada on Route 30.

That was two years ago.

Now, the Ramada is torn down and gone, like a great many other things during the same period of time, said branch President Ruth Tolbert.

“I think everyone needs prayer right now,” she said as she welcomed guests to the NAACP’s first “prayer luncheon,” held Saturday morning at Giannilli’s II in Unity, where the theme for 2022 was “Enough Is Enough.”

“We’ll be praying for loved ones, for the country, perhaps even for our enemies, because we all need it right now,” Tolbert said.

The branch’s religious affairs chair, Adrienne Russell of Greater Parkview Church in Greensburg, said they were overjoyed to be able to host the event this year.

“It’s wonderful being with others,” Russell said.

Tolbert said more than a half-dozen churches were represented at the luncheon.

“I love bringing people together,” she said. “That’s the work we do in the community. You feel empowered when you leave here.”

Helping people find common ground was even reflected in the seating chart for the luncheon.

“A lot of times we’ll put together people who haven’t met, and they get a chance to make a new friend and to realize we have more similarities than differences,” she said.

The worship leader was Rev. Kevin Bundridge, of Second Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant. He emphasized the importance of helping one another.

“We as brothers and sisters in Christ are called to pull one another out of the fire,” Bundridge said. “We must come united, especially the way the world is now, so that when people see us, they don’t see us for ourselves, but see Christ as he lives in us.”

The Greensburg-Jeannette NAACP was started in 1955, and covers most of central Westmoreland County. More information is available on Facebook.com/GreensburgJeannetteNAACP or by calling 724-838-9146.