For decades, the Trinity Episcopal Church has created resources and opportunities to help those in need within the Huntington community.

Trinity and Marshall University have a connection due to the choir made up of mostly Marshall students.

Mark Smith, choir director at Trinity, said the congregation is a scholarship opportunity for students.

“Anyone and everyone is welcome to sing here, but the singers who get paid here are Marshall students,” Smith said.

Marshall students are expected to sing in the chorus and practice on Sundays. Students are paid for their time and effort at Trinity. Smith said the scholarship program is helpful to students looking for some extra income to help with regular college expenses like housing and meals.

Dominique Sears has been a member of the choir for five years, and she said the scholarship program at Trinity has changed her life. Sears, who recently returned from a singing trip to London, said she has formed many meaningful relationships, connections and opportunities from being a part of the choir at Trinity.

“It’s great to get to meet people within the community all while doing what I love,” Sears said.

While many Marshall students have benefitted from the work taking place at Trinity, the church’s community service efforts do not stop there.

Smith said the church also has a program called River Cities Ministries. Every Saturday morning during this program, members make food and serve it to the community in the church parking lot.

“Anyone that wants a free meal is welcome,” Smith said.

Trinity also houses a food bank that creates thousands of meals for those in need within the Huntington community. The Marshall community and surrounding churches help with donations for the food bank. Clothing, toiletries and sanitary products are available at the food bank. The church provides additional cooked meals to those in need throughout the year. Smith, who has worked at Trinity for 18 years, said that over 12,000 people were fed within the community just last year.

Trinity has partnered with Marshall Health to provide the less fortunate in the Huntington area with access to services that may not be available to them regularly, Smith said. Every fourth Saturday of the month Marshall Health brings their mobile unit to the church to provide free health screenings, eye screenings, dental checkups and more to those in need.

“We have so many free resources available to those that just don’t have access to these kinds of things,” Smith said.

Those wanting to participate in the church’s mission to give back can do so by donating items to the church’s food bank. Non-perishables, canned goods and toiletries are all useful donations.

The church is located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Eleventh Street.

Rachel Riddle can be contacted at [email protected].