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REIDSVILLE — When leaders at First Baptist Church began organizing a day to help the county’s unemployed, many ideas came to mind.

They thought that providing information about returning to school and applying for financial aid would be helpful.

Dental screenings and car tune-ups would benefit people who likely have had to cut back on those expenses, church leaders reasoned.

And a little pampering never hurt anybody, so they decided to offer free manicures and massages, too.

All these services and more will be available next month during Operation Faith, Hope and Love, a daylong event catering to the Rockingham County unemployed.

The church will give away boxes of food, clothing and school supplies, and will offer workshops on topics such as obtaining financial aid and coping with job loss.

The church welcomes people of all faiths, and no registration is required.

“We figured those who were unemployed were tired of filling out forms,” said Bill Duke, senior pastor of First Baptist Church. “We want this to be a nice day. We’re not trying to recruit people.”

Rockingham County’s unemployment rate was 13.8 percent in June.

Joyce Russell, the event’s coordinator, was inspired to help after hearing about a similar event held in the spring at Rich Fork Baptist Church in Thomasville.

Russell said the idea was met with enthusiasm by church members and the community. “It literally took off,” she said. “It’s like God took hold of it, and it just went.”

Russell said various county agencies have agreed to participate, including representatives from the Employment Security Commission and Rockingham Community College.

Individuals and businesses are volunteering their time to conduct car fluid checks, basic medical and dental screenings, as well as give haircuts, manicures and massages.

Such luxuries are an ego boost to the unemployed, said Todd Shore.

Shore, a member of Rich Fork Baptist in Thomasville, said the haircuts were the biggest hit among the 2,500 people who attended Hope Lives, the event his church hosted in March.

Many said it was a luxury they could no longer afford since losing their jobs, Shore said. “We gave over 200 haircuts that day.”

Shore, who is unemployed, planned Rich Fork’s event and advised First Baptist.

He said Hope Lives attracted visitors from Mount Airy to Burlington. “We wanted to give the people who came to the church that day a day of hope to show that things are going to be OK,” Shore said.

While it won’t be able to solve all the problems of the unemployed in one day, First Baptist says it wants to help at least 500 families in Rockingham County.

Russell said people often blame God when problems arise, but she hopes Operation, Faith, Hope and Love will remind them from where their help comes.

“If we’re going to serve those people, they need to understand it is not us doing it. It’s God doing it,” she said.

Contact Jonnelle Davis at 627-4881, Ext. 126, or jonnelle.davis@news-record.com