Late Parishioner’s Cookbook Donation Funds Church Repairs in Columbia
A generous donation of over 1,000 books, primarily cookbooks, from the estate of a longtime parishioner is helping Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Columbia, Missouri, fund critical repairs.
John Eakin, who died in September 2024 at the age of 82, bequeathed his extensive book collection to the church through his will. Volunteers spent over 80 hours cataloging the books, many still in their original packaging, for a community book sale held this weekend. According to Sacred Heart’s office manager, Barbara Head, Eakin was a dedicated member of the parish for decades.
“When (Eakin) saw he had all these books, he wanted to help out in a way,” Head said. “He didn’t have a lot of money, but he felt that this was a way that he could say thank you.” Head emphasized the significance of the cookbook collection, noting that sharing a meal fosters community. For many churches, maintaining aging infrastructure is a significant financial challenge, and donations like this are vital. You can learn more about Catholic Church demographics and financial health from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Proceeds from the book sale will be used to replace the church’s aging HVAC system. Head expressed hope that Eakin’s legacy will inspire others to share and connect through cooking, adding, “So hopefully John’s legacy can be that you get one of these cookbooks and try some new recipes and you invite people over.” More local news from Headlinez.
Church officials stated they are grateful for Eakin’s thoughtfulness and the community’s support in making the book sale a success.
