By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

For the last two years Geneseo High School juniors Nathan Dunker and Reed Preston have make sizeable donations to the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry.

The donations are a result of their “Feeding Through Faith” cross sales which they began in 2020. They do keep some seed capital from their sales for their ongoing mission project.

Thus far, they have made 175 crosses since their beginning two years ago, and said they hope to reach the 200 mark by the end of this Christmas season.

“When we started this project, we really didn’t think far into the future,” Dunker said. “We have taken it year by year and we are happy with its success. He is the son of Keith and Tina dunker and Preston is the son of Rick and Kelly Preston.

Two years ago at Christmastime, the six-foot tall lighted crosses became part of the outdoor Christmas decorating scene in many area yards. The crosses have become so popular that the two young men continue to take orders.

The 6-ft. tall crosses can be ordered with or without lights in a choice of white lights or colored lights. The two young men have purchased the materials necessary in building the crosses and are seeking area donors to offset the cost of materials so they can increase their contribution to the food pantry.

Anyone interested in placing an order for Christmas or for Easter, or donating materials is asked to email feeedingthroughfaith20@gmail.com or visit face book at Feedingthroughfaith20; Instagram at feeding_through_faith_20 or by contacting Kelly Preston at 309-945-6270.

Anyone placing an order is asked to include their address, phone number, white/colored ($40), or non lit cross ($25), email address, as well as payment method preferred….Cash, check (payable to Tina Dunker) or Venmo at Tina Dunker are accepted.

The teens’ mission project began during the 2020 Christmas season. They live next door to each other, have grown up together and are good friends.

When the Christmas season approached two years ago, Dunker used some of the wood left from the fort-building to construct a cross, outlined the cross in white lights and added it to the Christmas decorations in the yard of the family home.

When Reed’s mom, Kelly Preston, saw what Nathan had made from the wood in the wood pile, she told her son, “I love the Dunker’s cross and would really like you to build one for us.” She said her son was hesitant at first because he did not want to copy his friend’s idea.

“We are good friends with the Dunkers and I will ask them,” Kelly Preston said. “Nathan’s mother said, ‘Absolutely, Reed can build you a cross. Jesus is the reason for the season’.”

That idea snowballed as neighbors and friends learned about the crosses from seeing them and from social media and began ordering the crosses from the two teens.

The project was launched when Dunker and Preston were on Thanksgiving break in 2020 from classes at GHS so they put their free time into doing something charitable, and so the decision as made to continue making and selling the crosses and donate their profits to a charitable organization.

Dunker said, “I didn’t mind giving up my free time because I had fun building the crosses. I found it nice to know that the time I was putting in was going towards a good cause. Hopefully, we inspired others to donate this holiday season too.”

They first designed a logo for their mission, “Feeding through Faith,” and those words gave them the idea to use their efforts to benefit the food pantry. The logo (FtF) is burned into the center of each cross they have made.

The logo was thought of by Dunker and it was Preston who explained, “He (Nathan) has a small wood burner and thought it would be cool to burn a logo onto the crosses. The name and logo was then thought of when we had a ‘meeting’ and decided on the name of ‘Feeding through Faith’ because we were spreading and sharing our faith through the cross sales. My faith has taught me the importance of giving and helping others.”

When asked how they decided to donate the money to the food pantry, and not keep the funds for themselves, Nathan Dunker said, “We knew we had the option to keep all of the profits; however, we decided against it because He is the reason for the season, so we knew we should donate most of the proceeds. It felt wrong to use the cross as a way for us to gain profits, rather than spreading the wealth to other people in need, especially during the holiday season. Jesus said to love thy neighbor as thyself, so it felt right to help those in need.”

Reed Preston’s thoughts were similar and he said, “I saw something on the news that talked about how many of the food pantries nationwide were in need due to the pandemic and I thought it would be a good idea to donate to our food pantry so families could have food and gifts for the holidays.”

They chose to donate their profits to the food pantry “because it is a local organization and since we were selling the crosses locally we thought we should donate locally too,” Reed said.

“We get to benefit people in need by giving donations to our local food pantry,” Preston said. “We both enjoy spending time together building the crosses. And the process of burning our logo into each cross, it really does add a special touch.”

When asked their thoughts when they see the crosses in so many area yards, Preston said, “When I drive around town, it is a pretty awesome feeling to see our crosses in people’s yards. This project also continues to help me grow in my faith and feel closer to God. I am proud of the work Nathan and I have done to spread the love of Jesus.”

And Dunker replied,” I like the fact knowing that I made the crosses and that by making them, I am able to help people in need. I like knowing that we are spreading Christ’s love while helping others. I enjoy seeing our crosses around because it brings up all the memories Reed and I share in the garage and one the road while making and delivering the crosses. I really enjoy being able to spread God’s image in a way where we can help those in need, and remind people of the reason for the season.”

CROSSES MEANINGFUL TO JIM DAHL

The “Feeding Through Faith” has a special meaning for Jim Dahl of Geneseo, who has now ordered and received 25 of the symbols.

Dahl shared his reasons for ordering 25 crosses from Dunker and Preston.

“Years ago, my wife Shirley wanted me to make her a cross for our front porch,” he said.

(The Dahl’s lived on North State Street and their porch was always beautifully decorated for each season)

“Shirley loved to decorate her Victorian porch for every season, but especially for Christmas,” he added. “When she wasn’t able to decorate like she used to, my son put lights on the cross I made and we left it lit on our porch until we sold our home.”

The cross made by Dahl now has a home on the front porch of the Dahl’s good friends, Vernon and Marcia Holevoet.

“After my wife’s passing on Nov. l8, 2020, I started seeing these crosses around Geneseo and found out about the two young men who were making them and donating funds to the food pantry,” Dahl said.

His wife, the late Shirley Dahl, was born on Dec. 25, and Dahl said, “She felt very special to be born on Jesus’ birthday, so I decided on Christmas 2021 to give 25 crosses to the glory of God in honor of Jesus and Shirley for their birthdays on Dec. 25.”

He met his goal of 25 crosses this season and said when he delivers the last crosses to family friends; the crosses will be located in Orion, Colona, Atkinson, Rapids City, Peoria, Chicago in addition to the many in Geneseo.

“I thank the Lord for these two young men doing such great work for the food pantry,” he said. “Christmas was Shirley’s favorite time of year in Geneseo and I know she would be pleased to see these crosses all around as a reminder of our Lord and Savior.”