Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - "You've got drive-thru burgers, and drive-thru ashes are the next thing."
For a 10th-straight Ash Wednesday in Western New York, locals were able to take advantage of "Ashes To Go" through the Calvary Episcopal Church on Milton Street in the Village of Williamsville. Several vehicles pulled into the back parking lot of the church, where they received their ashes and a blessing before going about the rest of their day.
"I have my grandchildren I watch all day, and it's just a crazy day, and I have a hard time getting to church to do it. So this is wonderful," said Lisa Brown from Kenmore. "I've been coming here for a couple years, and it's very important to me to get my ashes."
"In this troubling world that we live in right now, I think it's time to put everything together and think about our futures," added Bernie from Amherst.
For MaryAnn Rizzo, this service was quite convenient for her and her daughter after she was unable to receive her ashes earlier in the day.
"I live in assisted living, and everything is scheduled. Today it was a scheduled, Ashes at Mass at 9 o'clock, and I had a 9:30 doctor's appointment, so I couldn't stay and wait for it," Rizzo said with WBEN. "So we're coming home down Main Street, saw the sign and it was just, 'Oh, my God, that's wonderful!'
For some like Jim from Pendleton, it was important for him to receive his ashes on Ash Wednesday, and the Ashes To Go service in Williamsville was convenient for him.
"Many churches are regimented in such a way that they're not always available throughout the day. This makes it so convenient, and the touch I have with spirituality means a lot to me. This affords me that opportunity," Jim said with WBEN.
While watching her grandchildren, Brown is also thankful for such a service offered by Calvary Episcopal Church.
"My life is crazy, and my religion is very important to me. And going to church is just hard," Brown said. "I have eight grandchildren, I babysit them and I work full-time. It's just hard, so this is wonderful to be able to do this. I pray every day, and I can say my prayers when I want."
Fr. Robert Harvey says this service he provides for Christians all across Western New York seems to get more popular over the years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have volunteers from our parish and myself, who give people their ashes while they're sitting in their car, and to people even as young as newborn babies, if the parents want that," Fr. Harvey said during an appearance on WBEN on Wednesday. "And this year we're also giving a little wristband with a message we call 'Lenten practice'. We're looking at the topic of kindness this year. We figured that this year, it just seems like so many people are hungry for acts of kindness, random acts of kindness, and so we're taking that on with the wristband that says 'Kindness' on one side and the other side it says 'My daily practice.' It's to encourage us to be kind to each other, and show a true core Christian principle as we work our way through these weeks of Lent."
And as this service becomes more popular, Fr. Harvey feels more people are becoming appreciative that the church is offering such an opportunity on Ash Wednesday.
"People say, 'Thank you for doing this. I can't get to my church on Ash Wednesday.' It's a work day, it's a school day, schools are open, and so many people can't get to their church," Fr. Harvey said with Brian Mazurowski and Susan Rose on WBEN. "I know for many people, Ash Wednesday is a Holy day of obligation, where they're obliged to go to church to get their ashes, but they these days, they just can't do it. And so what we're trying to do is offer people this opportunity to get their ashes, to touch something sacred and Holy, as we begin this Holy season of Lent."