Living the Mission: North Platte Canteen

In 1941 in North Platte, Nebraska, the community prepared to meet a train of local boys transiting through on their way to war. Their boys never showed up, so the ladies gave away the goodies they’d prepared to other servicemen and an idea was born – “Why not meet all the trains going through North Platte and give other boys the same sort of send-off?” The original North Platte Canteen was born and by the time the war ended five years later, the little community of North Platte had touched the lives of over six million servicemen and women.
Today, First Baptist Church of Norfolk’s North Platte Canteen sees off Sailors headed off to war as part of a special program where Sailors augment deployed Army units. These Sailors come from all over the Navy, and are usually transiting through Hampton Roads alone, here only for a brief administrative stop, before heading overseas where they will join a deployed Army unit. Our North Platte Canteen sends them off with a goodie bag filled with snacks, a note of encouragement, and contact information. This ministry started 3 ½ years ago and has touched the lives of over 10,000 Sailors. To volunteer, contact Amy Mowell at amowell@verizon.net or 757.270.6262.