BY KAREN BOSSICK

Never mind the chaos that was going on 3,000 miles away as rioters stormed the nation’s Capitol.

Those at St. Thomas Episcopal Church chose to focus instead on the fact that Wednesday was the Feast of the Epiphany, a day of light and love.

Normally, the congregation might have gathered together to feast, maybe sharing a purple and yellow Three Kings Cake in honor of the Three Wise Men.

But this year, with the pandemic still coloring everything, they looked for ways they could honor of the day God’s light of love was made manifest in Christ.

They found their calling delivering 200 sandwiches from Perry’s, along with cookies and beverages to health care workers at St. Luke’s Wood River and first responders with Ketchum Fire Department and other organizations.

“This is a time when the Magi went in search of the Christ Child. It’s all about love and we wanted to start 2021 by finding a way to give back,” said church member Liz Hickey.

Hickey said she hoped the gesture would be a morale booster in the midst of winter. Idahoans are not getting vaccinated as fast as everyone would like, she noted. And health care workers in the valley have more people than ever to care for, thanks to those who have flocked to Sun Valley as a result of the pandemic.

“This is for healthcare workers’ tireless work to keep our valley safe and healthy,” she said. “It has been almost a year since we were on lockdown in the valley. And the valley was so generous at the beginning, with people thanking our health care workers for being heroes. But many seem to have forgotten that recently. We believe it is more important than ever to thank them for all they do!”

Hickey and other volunteers like Helen Morgus had no sooner finished delivering the meals than they had to return to the church to hand out take-and-bake meals to the general public, as they do every Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m.

Church volunteers began preparing and handing out the meals in August, cognizant that both Souper Supper and Ketchum Community Dinners were no longer offering meals because of the pandemic.

They make hearty batches of such dishes as Tuscan chicken, chicken pot pie and lasagna, paired with  brownies, blondies and peanut butter Rice Krispie bars. And Sun Valley Company’s Village Station supplements the meals with salad.

“One gentleman took six meals—food for an entire week. That’s how much his need was,” said Hickey. “We’ve had people drive by and give us money, send checks. We’re just so thankful because we realize there’s a need out there.”