Giving Thanks for Matt and Regina McCreary

By Kelly Brye Each and every week, I look forward to sharing special stories about the people and the history of Fernley. This week, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we explore the life and works of a longtime Fernley couple, Matt and Regina McCreary, who have quietly served the needs of Fernley residents since 1983. Every Wednesday morning, as you head onto Highway 95 South, you’ll pass the Living Faith Food Bank and you’ll see a long string of cars lined up along Comstock Dr., where it intersects with the highway. There’s a robust team of volunteers who have worked hard to accumulate each week’s inventory of food and load up a large box of groceries, one car at a time. Most, if not all, of the people lined up to receive their gift of food will be greeted by Pastor Matt or his wife, Regina, when it’s their turn in line. When you pull up, Pastor Matt and Regina will greet you, encourage you, cross you off their list and their team will load you up with this week’s food offerings. One of my first questions was “How do you determine if they are deserving of the food?” I was curious if there was an income level or other metric that is used to determine who qualifies for their generous gift that Pastor Matt, Regina and their team work hard to accumulate and organize each week. His answer is quite simply, “It doesn’t matter”. I was a bit embarrassed and ashamed of my own demeanor when he gave me his response. I realized that I had become a bit jaded and untrusting of those who may abuse opportunities when folks like Matt, Regina and their team work so hard to provide for those who need a helping hand. Matt taught me what values and spirit we all should work hard to abide by when extending a helping hand. It doesn’t matter. The Fernley Food Pantry presently serves approximately 250 families per week. They also serve shut-ins and those who are in a difficult financial stretch, including those who may not have a vehicle or any gas to power their car. Matt and Regina are assisted each week by an amazing team of volunteers. The food pantry also serves as a place where those who are assigned by the court system to complete community service can complete their sentence requirement. Matt McCreary was one of 4 children growing up in Northern Nevada, with sisters Cindy Stockton and Teresa Ellis as well as his little brother Kim. He worked in the trades and was a journeyman carpenter. He reflects backs to 1983 and remembers building what today we recognize as Nevada State Bank, including pouring the concrete slab for the vault. It was also in 1983 that Matt McCreary was inspired to collect and distribute food to those in need, right here in Fernley. Still an active carpenter, he would set aside time to gather food donations and, in essence, establish Fernley’s first food bank. For the first few years, he operated the food bank out of his home. A few years later, they moved to the building at Center and Main, the current home of Bliss Salon. It was 1998 when they moved to their current location at 75 Highway 95A. 1992 was a year of major change for Matt. He married the love of his life, Regina. It was also the year that the Lord asked him to hang up his tool bag and become a full-time pastor. He confesses the pay was a bit different than his carpenter pay, but he’s “never missed a payment” and everything has worked out perfectly. Pastor Matt and Regina shepherd the Living Faith Church, located at 110 S. Center St. The physical building that houses Living Faith Church, pastored by Matt McCreary and his wife Regina since 1992, was first located off of Farm District Rd. It was built in 1910 and was located on the J. Richard McColloch Ranch. In the day, this ranch was considered 5 miles east of Fernley. Referred to as East End School, its purpose was to serve the rural community outside of town. The school building was located next to the home that Richard Jackson’s mother, Betty McCulloch Jackson, was born in. Additionally, as a side note, the “in-town” school was also built in 1910. That same building presently houses the Fernley Chamber of Commerce. In 1927, a group of ladies organized the Fernley Ladies Aid Society. They held fundraisers and contributed their own personal funds to purchase the East End School for Fernley to have its first Church building. Prior to this time, Fernley residents met in homes to express their faith or traveled to neighboring Wadsworth, which had both Union Protestant and Catholic Churches at that time. The Ladies Aid Society purchased the building in 1932 and used additional funds to have the schoolhouse relocated to its current location today, across the street from the newer skate park at In-Town Park. It was dedicated as the Fernley Community Church on May 22, 1932. Today, the building is still owned by the Fernley Ladies Aid Society. In 2003, the Ladies Aid Society applied to have the building listed and protected through the National Register of History Places. They were successful and you can view the engraved market detailing as much on the front of the Church building. It was important to the original ladies that collaborated to establish Fernley’s first Church building that it would be non-denominational and available as a meeting place for the community, not affiliated with a specific, organized larger faith group. That mission remains the same today, and is home to the Living Faith Church, pastored for the past 30+ years by Matt McCreary and his wife, Regina. For more than 40 years, Matt has devoted his life to caring about others and giving, giving and giving. Quoting his brother, Kim McCreary, “If you gave Matt a million dollars, he’d give it all away the same day, always helping others.” Pastor Matt is quick to also support and recognize the other food pantries in town that also support those in need. The St Bellarmine Catholic Church has a weekly food giving program, as well. In Wadsworth, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe has been operating a food bank for several years now, and they distribute food to all in need, including non-tribal residents. Calvary Chapel helps folks with Thanksgiving needs every year. There are a lot of people doing a lot of work behind the scenes that make Fernley a better place. As I celebrate Thanksgiving this year, I’m thankful for Pastor Matt McCreary and his wife, Regina and the others who work so hard, all year long, to take care of those that need a little help. The world seems to work better when there are more givers and less takers. I’m thankful for the givers. Happy Thanksgiving!